A Palm Coast man and woman are in jail after deputies found an infant and an elderly man living in a home overrun with cockroaches, feces, and garbage.
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office arrested Tashaye Brown, 31, and Nikolas Cummings, 32, on charges of child neglect and elderly neglect following a welfare check at a residence in the W-Section of Palm Coast on Tuesday, January 13.
The investigation began when a Flagler County Fire Rescue member requested a welfare check while helping an elderly man at the home. The fire rescue worker had observed bedding heavily soiled with feces and urine, along with live cockroaches, cockroach droppings, and garbage throughout the residence.
When sheriff’s deputies and Major Case Unit detectives arrived, they immediately noticed a strong urine odor coming from the home. Inside, they found spoiled food and feces scattered throughout. While speaking with Brown about the conditions, detectives saw an infant inside a Pack ‘n Play that was infested with cockroaches.
Brown told detectives she knew about the infestation but said hiring a professional exterminator was too expensive. Instead, she explained that she would turn the Pack ‘n Play upside down and shake the insects out, place the infant back inside, and then spray a circle of cockroach insecticide around the base.
Detectives also found black spots along open electrical outlets, walls, and ceilings that were consistent with roach droppings. Mold was visible around the HVAC system vents.
An elderly man in the home told detectives he had recently returned from the hospital. He said a nurse who used to visit the home to help with his medical needs no longer worked there, and he did not know who was supposed to assist him. The man could not walk, feed himself, change himself, or take his medication without help. Detectives observed scabs on his legs and insects coming out of his socks.
Brown told investigators that she and Cummings moved into the home about two years ago to care for the elderly man because her cousin was unable to do so. However, she said his care was his responsibility. Cummings told detectives that he and Brown were the man’s sole providers and caretakers.
Detectives determined that the elderly victim’s son was not mentally or physically capable of caring for him and that Brown and Cummings were the only people responsible for his care. Investigators concluded that the couple showed willful disregard for both victims.
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly commented on the case. “The deplorable conditions of that house were no place for a toddler or a senior with serious medical issues,” Staly said. “These two feigned ignorance over the trash, feces and insects covering the floors, walls and victims inside the home. This was not a matter of money, they did not care about the hygiene of their home, the welfare of their child, or the medical needs of their family members. They put in zero effort. We will make sure their cells are clean at the Green Roof Inn.”
The elderly victim was taken to a local hospital for treatment. The infant was placed in the care of family members. The Florida Department of Children and Families is conducting a separate investigation into the welfare of both victims.
Brown and Cummings were each charged with child neglect without great bodily harm and neglect of an elderly or disabled adult without great bodily harm. Both are being held at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility on $15,000 bond.
