Parents in Florida have been arrested and charged with neglect after law enforcement discovered their one-year-old child sleeping in a playpen crawling with cockroaches. Deputies reported the infant was found in squalid conditions, despite the mother's claim she created a nightly "protective" barrier of Raid insecticide around the cot.
Deplorable Conditions Discovered During Welfare Check
The investigation began on 13 January 2026 when Flagler County Fire Rescue responded to a request for a welfare check concerning an elderly man at a residence in Palm Coast's W-Section. Upon entering the apartment, deputies were immediately hit by what they described as a "vile and putrid odour" permeating the entire home.
The property was reportedly strewn with piles of debris, garbage, and scraps, severely obstructing the living space. In the elderly man's bedroom, an "overpowering stench" of urine was present. Investigators noted that insects emerged from the man's mattress and clothing, and the bedding appeared heavily soiled with urine and faeces.
The 81-year-old man, who had recently returned from hospital, informed authorities he was unable to walk, feed himself, change his clothes, or take medication without assistance. Nikolas Anthony Cummings, 32, and Tashaye Driaunah Brown, 31, told detectives they had moved into the home roughly two years prior to act as the man's sole caretakers.
Baby Found in Insect-Infested Playpen
Deputies then discovered the couple's one-year-old son "sleeping within a Pack 'n Play in the living room." Shockingly, officers observed roaches and other bugs crawling over the infant as he slept.
When questioned, Brown admitted she was aware of the severe cockroach infestation but claimed professional extermination was too costly. Instead, she detailed a nightly routine she believed safeguarded the child. She stated she flipped the portable playpen upside down each night to shake insects out, placed the baby back inside, and then sprayed a tight circle of Raid Roach Spray around the base of the enclosure.
Authorities noted this method was wholly ineffective. When deputies returned the following day, the baby was still in the same playpen, which again contained roaches. Detectives said they "repeatedly removed insects" from the fabric of the enclosure, but they continued to emerge endlessly. Concerns were also raised about the infant's exposure to the hazardous chemicals in the insecticide.
Arrests and Aftermath
Cummings and Brown were arrested on Thursday 16 January 2026. Court records show each was charged with one count of cruelty toward a child without great bodily harm and one count of neglect of an elderly or disabled adult without great bodily harm.
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly condemned the couple's actions, stating, "The deplorable conditions of that house were no place for a toddler or a senior with serious medical issues... This was not a matter of money, they did not care about the hygiene of their home." He added that they showed "willful disregard" for their victims.
The elderly man was transported to a local hospital for necessary treatment. The one-year-old child was placed with other family members. The Florida Department of Children and Families has launched a separate investigation into the incident.
Both suspects were booked into the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility. They are being held on a $15,000 bond each and are scheduled to appear in court on 4 February 2026.
