Today, Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford announced the arrest of three adults after two minor children were found in a home locked in a filthy, bug-infested bedroom with no heating or bathroom facilities.

According to authorities, BCSO deputies responded to 8529 Terrell Street Lot B on December 1, 2024. Police say a 4-year-old and a 5-year-old were yelling out of a broken window begging for help.

They told neighbors they were locked in their room and needed to use the bathroom. At the scene, deputies found the children hanging out of a window of the house. Deputies asked them if they were okay. Authorities say the little boy said he needed to use the restroom but the bedroom door was locked.

Sheriff Ford said in a statement that deputies entered the children’s room which had a strong odor of urine and feces. Deputies found the children’s door was secured shut using a steel cable that was wrapped around the door handle and secured on the outside.

Deputies allege that the room only had one piece of furniture, a bed, with no sheets and was covered in dirt. Police say there were only three blankets and one pillow and the floor was covered in dirt.

One of the windows was broken and covered with a piece of wood. Deputies say broken toys, piles of trash, and cockroaches were crawling on the floor, ceiling, and walls. The Department of Children and Families responded to the house.

During an interview with a Child Protective Team, the children allegedly said they had to stay in the room all night and the parents let them out to use the bathroom. When asked about being cold, the children said they were cold. The oldest said he was “freezing” and his lips were cold.

The children allegedly said their parents would not allow them to have a heater in their room. Deputies allege that the house did not have heating. During an interview with parents, police allege that the parents said the kids were locked in the bedroom until they were awake and let out.

The mother allegedly said she was aware of the trash but did not have the energy to clean the room. Authorities say trash in the room appeared to have been there for an extended period of time.

The parents allegedly said they were trying to teach the kids to clean their room. The parents also allegedly said they had been locking the children in their room every night since 2023. Investigators spoke to the grandfather who also resides in the home.

Police say the grandfather was aware of the living conditions and that the children were locked in their bedroom. 27-year-old Kathy M. Merrill was arrested on two counts of Child Neglect.

31-year-old John W. Merrill was arrested on two counts of Child Neglect. 73-year-old Michael L. Beaubien was charged with Failure to Report Child Neglect.