You must really want to take your granddaughter from you, huh? >> No, I don't. >> You say that's your boyfriend? >> Yeah, he's 33 years old. >> Please don't take this little girl. >> On October 25th, 2023, police responded to a call from a resident reporting that a couple of adults were living in a tent behind her house near the levey along with a little girl and a pet dog. The caller described them coming and going late at night, bringing large dogs and staying for many days, which made her feel unsafe. When they arrived, officers quickly identified the woman as the child's grandmother, the very person who should have been her safe haven. But with her was a 33-year-old boyfriend, a grown man living right next to the grandmother's granddaughter in that dark tent. >> You must really want us to take your granddaughter from you, huh? >> No, I don't. I got I place where I was staying yesterday last night. The man said we all had to leave. >> Who's in the tent? >> My granddaughter. >> And who else? >> My boyfriend. >> Who? The same guy. >> Okay. >> I called my sister >> on his phone last night. And she's going to come pick me up and take me to where she lives. >> When she wants me to come pick you up? >> This morning. >> What time? >> She didn't give me a time. >> Can you contact her now? >> Hold on. Let me go through the phone. Let >> your boyfriend step out. But you you remember that [ __ ] We always go there for her son and the daughter-in-law. She was staying in the trailer. They had to like camper in front of the trailer >> for the dogs. >> Yeah. >> Oh, what happened over there? They got put out or something. They lost it. >> You know, our trailer got messed up with the storm and that camper she was in. That was a FEMA camper, I think. And they took it. They took the camper. >> They want to know what time you coming to pick me up. >> I should be there by 10:30 at the latest. Sir, I'm coming to pick her up. She's going to come and stay with me at my house until her trailer gets moved over there. I'm going to come and get her and my niece. Um, if you want, you could have my address and my phone number. >> Um, but she's going to come stay with me. >> For the time being though, y'all have to pack up. Y back up and leave like ASAP. >> Okay, let me go. >> Does he need my phone number or anything? I'm telling that this is legit. We're that I am coming. I need your phone number. >> All right. Love you. I love you, too, bud. Bye. >> What's his name? >> His name is Matt Landry. And yes, this one. >> Good morning. >> All right. Go ahead. >> Okay. Come on. >> Maybe sister pick you up. You can't just be people houses. People get nervous. There's a lot going on. >> Yeah. You know, >> I got >> We don't need to hear it. Just go ahead. Pack up. Do what you got to do. >> Do we have any problem backing up? I >> run out of gas in law last night. >> Hm. I run I run out of gas here. The Walmart is here. We'll pack everything up, but I can't move until I get gas. >> Let me >> Okay, >> put some gas in the lawn more. >> All right, that's fine. >> It's Tuesday. Last time we were on a le just mattress and blanket or something. >> They were um Yeah, they were on the other side of the levey with a like a whole mattress. >> Hey, hello. >> Just a me talking to my sister. >> Okay, it it don't matter. We're standing by. We're waiting for a supervisor and everybody. >> Okay. But >> what where have you where have you been staying? >> I've been staying in the tent. But >> where has she been staying >> during the day? She goes to school and last night she slept with us. The man over there told us we had to go last night. Cedar. >> Yeah. You going to hang tight in front of his cupboard? >> Um told us we had to leave last night. My intentions was wasn't to come back here, but it did contact. >> Okay, here's the thing. Longterm, where is she sleeping >> longterm? She'll be at in Holden. >> No, not where she will be. Where has she been all this time? Since the last time we saw you, cuz you went to her daddy's house. So, where has she been since then? >> I didn't go to her daddy's house. >> The last time we dealt with you over there off of River Road by the Levy. >> Did he her dad or your son came and picked y'all up? Remember that? >> No. My son gave you guys the wrong address in Hollywood and I seen the case worker the next day. >> Okay. >> Okay. We from then we were staying out here at the Best Western. >> Okay. >> Okay. Yeah. It's kind of Stop, please. Kind of expensive. >> Mhm. >> And we were just trying to regroup. We were staying over by some friends and last night he said everybody's got to go. I don't know what happened. >> Okay. So, we need a phone number. If you've been staying with friends on Cedar Street, what's their phone number and their name? >> You have to ask Matt. >> Okay. Because we need we need to get that information. >> Okay. Um but who is he to you? >> My boyfriend. >> The haunting question arose. How could a grandmother allow her own granddaughter to live with a grown man in such miserable conditions? I ain't even told him yet. His dad's uh broke down. >> Just call who's dad, >> Matt. That's what we were doing on this. >> He said that's your boyfriend. >> Mhm. >> Yeah. He's 33 years old. >> Where's your son? >> Are y'all looking for him? >> To be to be honest with you, I don't know where he stays all the time. >> Okay. So, if he gave the wrong address the last time we dealt with you, where did our deputy drop you off at? >> I don't know because he got that address from my son. All I know was in Hollywood. So, y'all didn't go in the house? >> No. >> So, where did y'all stay? >> I stayed with a friend. >> No. When they dropped you off the last time, where did y'all stay if y'all didn't go in the house? >> Stayed with a friend called Bear McIntyre. Right there. >> On the corner. >> So, the guy, the big guy that we found you with, y'all went to his house. >> Yeah. >> So, how long have you been out of your house? >> It's been a minute. >> It's been a minute. It's been a minute. Like, >> couple days, couple weeks, couple months. I go back. No, I hope not. A couple of months at the most. It's been a month. >> But >> yes, >> I went there. I went >> a new house if you want, but not it's going to be a lot of days. >> It's going to be a lot of days. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> I went from the house on Corve to the Marriott Hotel and then >> I had I had a hot milk. >> You did? >> Mhm. Is that to be too expensive where we couldn't afford it. >> Uhhuh. >> And I went and felt I went and stayed with my friend right there on River Road. >> Her statements were full of contradictions and evasions. A textbook case of an irresponsible grandmother who instead of finding a safe place to stay, accepted letting her granddaughter sleep in a dangerous environment surrounded by adults of uncertain background. When it was his turn, the 33-year-old boyfriend admitted he was taking care of both grandmother and granddaughter, but also confessed all three had been living in the tent, scraping by on unstable income from polishing truck rims. >> The reason why I left bears. Now, I don't know what the police officer told my son. I have no idea. >> Is Is this his daughter? >> It's his daughter. >> It's not Bear. >> No, no, her son's daughter. >> Yes. >> Yes. That's her son. your son that we used to deal with with the dogs and all that. That's >> No, that's me. I'm the one with the dogs. >> You're the one with the dog? >> Yeah. >> I thought you said that was your boyfriend. >> He is my boyfriend. >> Her son. I'm not I'm not her son. >> I thought you were her son with the dog. >> No. >> Okay. So, we had a but >> the reason why we didn't stay at Bears, it was no running water. Yes. He had lights. No running water. He didn't have food. >> The owner probably going to charge you. Well, >> so >> okay, >> as soon as I found out that we were out of there and we come to the Best Western, my sister brought us >> I can't keep affording the hotels. I take care of these two. I'm the man on them. Okay. I've been for over a month. The Marriott, the best wrestling, but when it rains, I polish rims at the truck stop $60 a truck. It sets you back a couple days to be having work still until the weekend when they can wash a truck. So my money be a little hit so I can catch up right at the tent. We got to catch up until I can get a day day or two. >> But we can't have Nina in the tent. >> No, I got you. >> I don't know if she understands. I didn't I didn't have I didn't lie to her that night >> at all. Does it really have to be that many? Please don't take this little girl. She's not. >> You know what I'm saying? >> We just uh we we come out. We come out. It's not >> They're doing They just They're doing what they got to do. >> His words might have sounded responsible, but in reality, they only exposed the truth. The little girl was completely abandoned in the hands of people who had no ability and no intention to provide for her most basic needs. Police gently approached the little girl to reassure her and learn about her condition. >> You want spaghetti? >> They're my favorite. >> What about a biscuit? >> Yeah. >> You like biscuits? >> Yeah. >> Do you like eggs? >> You want a egg and biscuit? Can you Nene? That's what I thought. You Your name was Nene. I knew that. >> No, it's not. >> That's your nickname. She needs to remember. >> That's I know. What's all these bites on you? >> Where'd you get that? >> They're mosquito bites >> and and they hurt me and itching. >> They itching you? >> Yeah, they make me itch. >> Can we call Aadian and have her checked out, please? >> I like doctors. I don't like shots. >> Oh, you're not going to get a shot today. Okay. But we want to check this. We want to check this out and this out and this out and that one out. Okay. >> How old are you today? >> Five. Five. That's a big girl. >> I was one years old when I was a baby. >> Oh, yeah. >> Yeah. >> The 5-year-old was wearing a diaper with numerous red bites covering her arms, legs, and stomach, and innocently explained they were mosquito bites. For a child of kindergarten age to still wear diapers and show such extensive insect bites revealed severe neglect. Officers immediately called for medical personnel to evaluate her. >> No way. >> Can I show you what I can do? >> I can do this. >> Oo, >> but with both of my hands. >> With both of your hands? >> Yeah. I like to go to Bucky, too. >> Yeah. What is it? >> That's the middle finger. >> It is the middle finger. You can't stick out the middle finger. >> That's not nice, is it? >> No. But you can stick out this finger. >> That's your index finger. >> Ooh, Duncan pointer. >> That's right. >> This is your pointer. >> That's better. >> Well, I like fun. >> You like fun? >> Yeah. And I like Scario Elsa with the bloody face. >> Where did you see that at? at my uh at Eva's house. >> Oh, >> she has a sister and a brother. >> Does anything hurt? >> No. >> Can I push on your belly? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. You want to lean back for me? You wearing a diaper? >> Yeah. >> Why? >> It's a baby diaper. >> I know. >> But sometimes I wear pull-ups. >> I'm just going to look at your belly. Okay. Do you wear pull-ups sometimes? >> Yeah. >> Does that hurt? >> No. No. All right. Turn towards me. I like your shoes. >> Thank mine. >> Who's they? >> My friend. >> Okay. Can I see your arm? You know it. Do you get this done at the doctor? >> Yeah. At my favorite doctor. >> Your favorite doctor? >> I have a bubble right here. >> Oh, you have a bunch of bubbles. Does that one hurt? >> Uh, right here. Does where the bloody spots are? Yeah, it does. All you toesies are there. All you piggies are there, though. >> This was not merely a medical check, but the first step to remove her from the dangerous cycle her irresponsible grandmother had forced her into. When officers returned to inspect the site, they saw firsthand where the three had been living. It was a torn makeshift tent pitched on a patch of wasteland. Around it were children's clothes scattered everywhere, belongings piled up, clear signs they had been there for days. Alongside them were two dogs crammed into the same filthy, cramped space. The entire scene revealed a harsh truth. The little girl had been living in a squalid rat's nest with no electricity, no water, and no safety of any kind. Police concluded this was an environment utterly unfit for a child and the evidence gathered was enough to charge the grandmother with cruelty to juveniles, abuse, and placing a child in a dangerous situation.