Florida Deputies Find 4-Year-Old Alone in Pond, Then Discover Filthy Home
A 4-year-old Florida boy was found alone in a retention pond, wearing nothing but a diaper, before deputies discovered troubling conditions inside his family’s home. The rescue led to the arrest of both parents on child neglect and animal cruelty charges.
The boy was spotted near a pond in Deltona on October 31, prompting a 911 call shortly before 8 a.m. Deputies with the Volusia Sheriff’s Office were already nearby and heard the emergency call through the agency’s Live 911 system.
When deputies reached the pond, they found the child standing in water up to his waist. He appeared unharmed, but no adult was watching him. After pulling him to safety, deputies worked to locate his family.
Their search led them to a nearby house filled with animal waste, insects, and mold, according to the sheriff’s office. A neglected dog was also found inside, while the child’s parents now face felony cases in Volusia County.
Alone in the Pond
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According to the WFLA report, a caller alerted deputies after seeing the child wandering near the water without an adult.
The call came from the area of Oasis and Gainesville Drives. Deputies listening through Live 911 were able to respond quickly, reaching the boy before he was injured.
The child was unable to speak to deputies, but they managed to identify his home. When they arrived, they found the front door open and began calling out for someone inside.
Sgt. Peter Carelli later told WSVN that the boy appeared to have gotten out of the house while a parent was sleeping. From there, he made his way down the street and into the water.
Inside the House
The conditions at the home raised immediate concerns. Deputies reported finding large amounts of animal waste throughout the house, along with a roach infestation and mold.
Carelli described the smell during an interview with WESH 2. He said the odor was so strong that he initially feared someone might have died inside.
The house also contained old animal waste, urine, dead insects, and insect droppings. Carelli said the conditions were among the worst he had encountered during his 13 years in law enforcement.
Deputies also found a dog confined to a cage in poor conditions. Deltona Animal Control responded to the home and took custody of the animal after deputies reported that it had been neglected.
The child’s parents were identified as Fermin Jesus Medrano Perez, 25, and Jenexia Marie Rodriguez Crespo, 24. Both were arrested after deputies inspected the home.
Parents Face Court
The sheriff’s office reported that both parents were arrested on child neglect and animal cruelty charges. Court records obtained from the Volusia County Clerk of Court provide additional details about the criminal proceedings.
Separate felony cases were filed against Medrano Perez and Rodriguez Crespo on October 31. Both cases remain open and are assigned to Judge Karen A. Foxman.
Their records list first appearance events for November 1 and show that both parents are scheduled for arraignment on December 3 at 1:30 p.m. in Courtroom 4B at the DeLand Courthouse.
The court lists both cases under its felony domestic violence category. That classification does not establish a separate domestic violence charge, and the specific filed offenses still need to be checked against the court’s offense records.
WESH reported that both parents had been released on bond by November 2. Meanwhile, the boy was placed in the care of a grandparent, and the Florida Department of Children and Families was contacted for a follow-up investigation.
