Iowa mother sentenced for abandoning kids in trash-filled home infested with cockroaches

DES MOINES, Iowa (TCN) -- A 42-year-old mother will spend up to two decades behind bars for leaving her children alone in an unsafe home that lacked running water, heat, and food.

In a news release, the Polk County Attorney’s Office said a judge sentenced Amanda Myers on Aug. 11 to up to 20 years in prison after she pleaded guilty to two counts of neglect or abandonment of a dependent person and two counts of child endangerment. Prosecutors said Myers’ parental rights were terminated.

According to prosecutors, Myers’ friend called law enforcement on Dec. 20, 2023, and said there were possibly two children alone in a mobile home. Responding police located the defendant’s two kids, ages 7 and 6, "in a home that was unfit to live in, including a lack of running water, heat, and food." Authorities said the place "was infested with cockroaches, rotting garbage, and other dangerous conditions."

A detective who testified reportedly said the "conditions were the worst that she has seen in 15 years on the Des Moines Police Department."

According to the attorney’s office, the children’s guardian ad litem in the case claimed the victims "were not potty trained, were afraid of bathing, and were unhealthy." The kids are reportedly now in school, "but the boy is two years behind in learning.” The guardian told the court, "They are sweet and loving kids, and they deserve a good life."

The defendant asked for probation so that she could undergo treatment for mental health, trauma, and drug and alcohol abuse.

In imposing the sentence, the judge reportedly stated, "It’s not just the bad, awful conditions in the home, but we could have had two dead children in the house. The thing that tipped it for me is that you were not living there."

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