Sheriff: Child's Skeletal Remains, 3 Abandoned Siblings Found In Apartment

UPDATE: Texas Child Whose Remains Were Found In Apartment Died Of 'Multiple Blunt Force Injuries'

HOUSTON (CBSDFW.COM/AP) - The skeletal remains of a child, and three surviving siblings who appear to have been abandoned, were found inside an apartment in the Houston area, a sheriff said.

One neighbor told KTRK-TV in Houston that she complained -- for months -- about a bad smell coming from the apartment. The unnamed neighbor claimed nothing was done.

One of the children, a 15-year-old, called the Harris County Sheriff's Office on Sunday afternoon and told authorities that his 9-year-old brother had been dead for a year and the body was inside the apartment, the office said in a statement.

Deputies responded and found the teen, and two other siblings ages 10 and 7, living alone in the apartment, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez told reporters. The other child's skeletal remains were also located.

"It appears that the remains had been there for an extended period of time. And I emphasize extended," Gonzalez said.

The sheriff said it also appeared that the surviving children were "fending for each other," with the oldest sibling caring for the younger two. It was unclear whether any of the kids were attending school.

The younger children appeared to be malnourished and had physical injuries, the statement said. All three siblings were taken to a hospital to be assessed and treated.

The mother of the children and her boyfriend were later located, authorities said. Both were being questioned.

Neighbors expressed shock and disbelief when they learned about the children. Kayla Williams told the Houston Chronicle that she has two children, but she doesn't plan to tell them what happened.

"I don't need to put this in their heads," she said. "This is crazy."

The unnamed next-door neighbor told KTRK-TV that she would not run her air conditioner so the smell would not come into her residence.

Officials said that the mother and boyfriend have been released.  "There are no new developments this morning regarding the scene on Green Crest. Mother and her boyfriend were located, interviewed and released. CPS is assisting with the children. Our investigation remains on-going. No charges have been filed," Gonzalez said in a tweet.

In:
• Child Abuse