Living in "luxury?" That's what grandmother says of seven children, living in home now condemned
MILWAUKEE COUNTY (WITI) -- The mother of a woman charged with multiple counts of child neglect tells FOX6 News she's confused about how city and state officials, and police describe the conditions of the home the seven children were living in -- that has been condemned.
"I just don't get it!" Cecilia Burton said Monday, August 11th.
Octavia Burton
Her confusion comes as her daughter, 26-year-old Octavia Burton faces seven counts of neglecting a child -- based on allegations the younger Burton's home is not fit for human occupancy.
The home was condemned after two of Burton's children (ages 10 and 11) were injured in a shooting incident that occurred near 37th and Hadley.
"When I come over there, she got a 27-inch color TV up there for them. Cable. They had luxury upstairs," Cecilia Burton said.
Cecilia Burton was in court in Milwaukee County on Monday -- where an attorney appeared on Octavia Burton's behalf.
Octavia Burton was charged when city inspectors went to check out her home following the shooting on July 23rd in which two of her children were injured.
Police say Burton and a 30-year-old man were in a van with her seven children — between the ages of two and 11 when the shooting occurred.
Police say the man got into some sort of altercation with others in the neighborhood — and that’s when the gun battle ensued.
Some of the bullets hit the side of a home in the area, and others hit the 10-year-old boy and 11-year-old girl.
Police said the children’s mother, later identified as Burton, drove them to the hospital.
Police say their investigation into the shooting let them to a house not far away -- where the mother was living with her seven children.
Police say city workers discovered cockroaches and feces throughout the home.
According to the criminal complaint, upon entering the residence, officers noted a strong odor of dog urine and feces through the entire residence.
The criminal complaint indicates that officers observed insect infestation in every room. Additionally, officials noted that they located a mattress in a closet which was covered in well over 100 insects, including roaches.
Officials also discovered both old and fresh dog feces in a metal crate, a pantry and a stairwell.The complaint indicates the living room floor was covered with ten garbage bags, which were filled with dirty clothes and insects.
Within minutes of entering the residence, a DOC agent terminated the search due to the overpowering smell.
WARNING: The pictures below may be disturbing to some