Official: 9 kids removed from 'filth' in home, 1 hospitalized

SPRING, Texas -- One child is in the hospital and eight others in Child Protective Services custody after being removed from a "deplorable, unsanitary, unhealthy" home near Spring, according to officials. The children's parents, Sabrina and Daniel Bell, are in jail.

The Montgomery County Precinct 3 Constable's Office removed the children from the home in the 1600 block of Julia Park Drive on Wednesday. Neighbors called authorities concerned they had not seen the children in some time. When deputies obtained a search warrant to enter the home, those concerns escalated.

"We found, honestly, deplorable conditions. Very unsanitary. Unhealthy. No place children should be living in," said Chief Matthew Rodrigue.

The children are between 13 months and about 10 years old. The youngest child was hospitalized due to concerns raised by EMS on the scene, said Rodrigue.

Neighbors told Eyewitness News the family has lived in the home for years but few of them ever saw the children.

"It's alarming, isn't it? It's odd," said Keith Barnett, who lives directly across the street. "It breaks my heart if there's something going on with the kids," added the father of 10 children.

Rodrigue said the "amount of filth and bad conditions is upsetting," adding that trash, food waste and mold were found throughout the home.

The parents are charged with felony child endangerment and could face more charges.

The condition of the hospitalized child is not known.