Authorities in Florida’s Flagler County arrested a man on Sunday after they discovered his 2-year-old son wandering alone in the middle of a street, dressed in pajamas and wearing “a heavily soiled diaper.” This alarming incident prompted multiple 911 calls from concerned citizens.
Deputies arrived at the scene, responding to reports of the toddler later seen in the front yard of a home, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office. Witnesses took the child home, only to find his father, 44-year-old Ross Judy, “passed out in his bed, intoxicated.”
Upon deputies’ arrival, they found the home in a shocking state, littered with dangerous tools and garbage, and inside, there was a disturbing scene including animal feces, filth, and an emaciated dog with severe injuries. The deputies described the entire residence as being in “deplorable” condition, cluttered with empty alcohol containers, bugs in the toilet, and a sink filled with several inches of cigarette ash, making it unrecognizable.
Moreover, pill bottles, exposed razors, and hypodermic needles were found within easy reach of the toddler, raising serious concerns regarding child neglect. Sheriff Rick Staly expressed his outrage, stating, “No child should be living in deplorable conditions with an adult who obviously doesn’t care about their well-being. The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office has no tolerance for anyone endangering children or animals. I am thankful to our residents who ‘saw something and said something’ so that our deputies could intervene.”
As a result of these findings, Judy was charged with child neglect and abandoning an animal, with a bond set at $4,000—$1,500 for the animal charge and $2,500 for the child neglect charge. He was able to bond out a few hours after being booked.
The sheriff’s office has stated that the Florida Department of Children and Families and Palm Coast Animal Control are involved in ongoing investigations, although they have not disclosed any details regarding the status of the child or the dog.
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