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Saturday, November 14, 2009
Children's Home Was 'Deplorable'
By T.J. Wilham
Journal Staff Writer
Only a few areas of the floor weren't covered with trash, clothing or canine feces.
The bathroom was "putrid" from a recent toilet backflow that had dried.
And there was no way to tell the children's beds apart because of the clutter.
That's what sheriff's deputies say they found Wednesday when they went to Vanessa Galaviz's home at the request of the Children, Youth and Families Department.
CYFD was checking on Galaviz, 25, and her two children, ages 7 and 4, when they found the mess.
Galaviz now faces two child abuse charges, both felonies.
According to the sheriff's department, CYFD had received a complaint about the welfare of the children.
CYFD officials visited Galaviz at her home in the 1400 block of Vista del Rio SW about 8 p.m. Wednesday, discovered the conditions of the house and called the sheriff's department.
"The conditions of the house were absolutely deplorable," Sheriff's Lt. David Knowles said. "Trash was overflowing, raw sewage was floating and feces was everywhere. Rarely do we see something that rises to this extreme level."
When questioned, Galaviz shrugged her shoulders and told deputies that she didn't clean, according to a criminal complaint.
She acknowledged that the house was a "hazard for the children."
CYFD took custody of the children and put a 48-hour hold on them.
"When we see something like this, we are going to take action for the welfare of the children and anybody who lives there," Knowles said.
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