First responders in Boston reported finding four children living in squalid conditions with six adult males in an apartment strewn with alcohol, illicit drugs, and sex toys.
EMS and the Boston Fire Department were dispatched to a South Boston apartment complex on June 17 after receiving a call about a man not breathing. Once inside the apartment, the first responders apparently found a man dressed as a woman in cardiac arrest. CPR was performed, but the man could not be revived.
Six other men were also in the apartment, some of whom were reportedly dressed in feminine clothes. The apartment was in “extreme unsanitary conditions,” according to the BFD’s incident report.
First responders reported hearing cries for help from another room. Upon searching the premises, they apparently found four children between the ages of 5 and 10 hidden in a back room with a man wearing a wig who claimed to be the children’s father.
“All of the adult parties were being uncooperative and did not provide helpful information. All adults present denied having children inside the apartment,” the incident report alleges.
As of Monday, no charges have been announced against the men, and their identities have not been publicly released. The four children have been taken into the custody of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families.
The incident drew the attention of Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, who called the incident heartbreaking.
“Just heartbreaking. A terrible situation. DCF has taken those children into its care and custody right now.”
Local Boston At-Large City Councilor Michael Flaherty revealed that the man died from an apparent drug overdose and expressed disgust over the conditions the children were found in.
“This is sickening. I was informed by people at the scene that there were drugs, alcohol, sex toys all around the apartment as well as a dead body on the floor.”
“It was obviously sickening to hear from those that were there at the scene describing what they saw, and the actions of the adults that were in the room. [The first responders] were concerned. They had reached out to me just to make sure that it didn’t get swept under the rug,” Flaherty said.
Flaherty blamed the Boston Housing Authority, which runs the apartment complex, for the incident, claiming that the agency should have done more due diligence. The agency released a statement claiming it had not received any previous reports associated with the address.
“BHA received no complaints about activity in this unit prior to the incident, but we care deeply about the safety of all our residents and are working actively with the agencies involved to take all appropriate follow-up action.”
