Neighbors called it in after noticing something wrong. What officers found inside was a home where two children had never once seen grass.
Lester and Petra Huffmire, an Anaheim, California couple, were sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to child abuse for keeping their two young daughters confined inside a filthy mobile home for years while they played the online game World of Warcraft.
A Welfare Check
A neighbor contacted the Anaheim Police Department, prompting a welfare check at the family's mobile home. Officers found the two girls, then 10 and 5, with dirt crusted on their feet, matted hair, malnourishment, and dental damage prosecutors later described as beyond repair.
Conditions Inside the Home
Investigators found the home in a severely unsanitary state, with mold and grime covering kitchen appliances, trash and waste throughout the living areas, and toilets that were no longer usable. Given the ages of the children involved, we won't detail further specifics here beyond confirming the girls had reportedly never been allowed outside for any purpose, including school, and had never seen grass.
Charges and Guilty Pleas
Lester and Petra Huffmire, both 41 and unemployed at the time, were found by prosecutors to have spent the bulk of their days playing World of Warcraft rather than caring for their daughters. Both pleaded guilty to two felony counts of child abuse, two misdemeanor counts of false imprisonment, and one misdemeanor count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, along with sentencing enhancements for great bodily injury.
Frequently Asked Questions
What charges did the Huffmires face?
Two felony counts of child abuse, two misdemeanor counts of false imprisonment, one misdemeanor count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and enhancements for great bodily injury, all of which they pleaded guilty to.
How were the children discovered?
A neighbor alerted police, prompting a welfare check that revealed the children's condition.
What was happening in the home during the neglect?
Prosecutors said both parents were unemployed and spent much of their time playing the online game World of Warcraft rather than caring for their daughters.