Parents Arrested After Five Children Found Living in Filthy Miami Beach Apartment

Family’s Horrific Living Conditions Revealed

A mother and father were arrested after their five children were found living in a filthy Miami Beach apartment that had no electricity, food or a working toilet and just one bed for them to share, police said.

Discovery Made After 6-Year-Old Child Is Seen Crossing the Street Alone

The discovery was made after one of their children, a 6-year-old, was seen crossing the street in the 700 block of 15th Street, unsupervised and in a high-traffic area on Tuesday afternoon. A passerby who witnessed it called police, and officers arrived and saw the child leaving an apartment complex by himself.

Officer’s Shocking Findings

The officers asked the boy where he lived and he led them to his apartment in the 700 block of 15th Street, which was answered by a 12-year-old, the couple’s oldest child. Officers found four other children in the apartment, which had no food, no electricity, no working toilet, and no functioning stove, the reports said.

Children’s Living Conditions Revealed

Police asked the kids if they were hungry and they all said yes, saying their last meal had been around 10 p.m. the night before. Officers also found the toilet contained stagnant water and feces and there was no toilet paper in the home. The children told them they take showers after going to the bathroom. They said they had no way of contacting their mother but said she worked at a hotel in Miami, and said they didn’t know where their father worked.

Parents’ Indifference to Children’s Needs

The kids said they had no way of contacting their mother but said she worked at a hotel in Miami, and said they didn’t know where their father worked. They also said they were often left at home while their parents went out to dinner, and were frequently told to eat at school.

Daughter’s Account of Life with Parents

The 12-year-old daughter told investigators she was responsible for caring for her siblings while her parents were at work. She said all five children share a full-size bed, and the kids often went to bed hungry, especially during the holiday break because their meals depended on their parents bringing food home. She said their mother would occasionally leave them $20 to buy food, and she would buy two bacon cheeseburgers and three McChicken sandwiches from McDonald’s.

Parents’ Denials and Arrests

The parents, Sanel Canovic, 40, and Azra Nikocevic, 33, were arrested on Tuesday on five counts each of child neglect with no great bodily harm, Miami-Dade jail records showed. Canovic arrived at the police station and asked to give a statement through a Croatian speaker, but invoked his right to an attorney. Nikocevic denied depriving the children of food and said she was trying to get assistance with food stamps.

Conclusion

The shocking discovery has raised concerns about the well-being of the children and the parents’ ability to provide for their basic needs. The parents’ arrest and subsequent charges of child neglect highlight the importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of all children, regardless of their circumstances.

FAQs

What were the living conditions like in the apartment?

The apartment had no electricity, food, or working toilet, and only one bed for the five children to share.

How did the children fare?

The children were found to be malnourished, with some going to bed hungry. They had no way of contacting their parents, and the 12-year-old daughter was responsible for caring for her siblings while her parents were at work.

What did the parents say in their defense?

The parents denied depriving the children of food and said they were trying to get assistance with food stamps. However, they were arrested and charged with child neglect.

What happened to the parents?

The parents were arrested and booked into jail, and later appeared in court where a judge set their bond at $2,500 each.