Couple ‘left baby boy fester in MAGGOT-infested nappy and six other kids starve in a faeces-filled home’
Jamie Leigh Hiatt, 25, and Michael Patrick McKnight, 26, face child abuse charges after cops found the kids during a welfare check
A NORTH Carolina couple have been charged with child abuse after seven children in their care were found in a faeces-filled home.
Jamie Leigh Hiatt, 25, and Michael Patrick McKnight, 26, from Lexington, were arrested on Friday after police performing a welfare check at their home discovered their children were malnourished and unclean.
During the check, officers said they found maggots inside the nappy of an 18-month-old baby.
They also encountered an overwhelming smell of faeces and urine - both human and animal - when they went into the home.
Lexington Police Department Captain Michael Hunt told The Dispatch that upon walking inside the house, the officers "reported an overwhelming smell of faeces and urine".
He added that the "overall condition of the home was nasty" and that it was clear that the malnutrition was an ongoing issue.
The seven children were all under the age of six.
Two 18-month-old twins and a one-year-old were taken to hospital for treatment - where they were said to be in "fair condition".
The one-year-old has since been released to Davidson County Social Services.
The other four children in the home were taken away and placed in the care of their other relatives or in foster care.
McKnight is the parent of three of the children and Hiatt is the parent of four of the children.
They were each charged with felony neglect-child abuse involving serious injury and six counts of misdemeanour child abuse.
McKnight and Hiatt were each given a £757,000 secured bond.
The pair are due to appear at court on November 20.
