In the quiet suburban community of Pontiac, Michigan, a horrific and heart-wrenching story of neglect and abandonment recently came to light, revealing the shocking and deplorable conditions in which three young children were left to survive on their own for years. This case is one of the most extreme instances of child neglect ever to be uncovered in the area, with the children—two girls, aged 12 and 13, and their 15-year-old brother—having been completely abandoned by their mother, identified as Hee Say Kellz, for an extended period of time. Their plight, which had gone unnoticed by the outside world for so long, paints a disturbing picture of what can happen when children are left to fend for themselves in an environment filled with filth, isolation, and neglect.

 

The Tragic Abandonment

The mother’s abandonment of her children occurred sometime around 2020 or 2021, leaving the three siblings to navigate a chaotic and nightmarish existence alone. The children’s mother, Hee Say Kellz, had been their sole caretaker, but for reasons still under investigation, she abruptly vanished from their lives. With no reliable adult figure to step in, the children were left to survive without basic necessities, forced to find their own way through an unimaginable series of challenges.

 

Despite being just children, they were left with the full weight of their circumstances. No schooling, no guidance, no social services stepping in to check on their welfare—these young lives were cast adrift, disconnected from any outside support system. Instead of attending school like their peers, the children were left isolated in their home, cut off from any normal childhood experience. Their mother’s absence was felt deeply, and it appears that her only involvement in their lives after abandoning them was a weekly drop-off of food. Whether this food came from her or from strangers, it was the only semblance of care or nurturing the children received during their years of abandonment.

 

The Condition of the Home

When law enforcement officials arrived at the home, they were met with an appalling sight, one that Sheriff Michael Bouchard, a seasoned veteran in law enforcement, described as one of the most disturbing cases he’d encountered in his career. The house, a once normal family home, had devolved into an uninhabitable hellscape. Piles of garbage, stacked up to a height of four feet, created an overwhelming sense of squalor. The stench of rot and decay filled the air, a reminder of the utter neglect and filth the children had been subjected to. Mold had taken over the walls, and human waste was found in multiple places throughout the house, including in the bathtub. The children had lived in these conditions, completely alone, without any intervention from social services or the outside world for years.

 

As horrific as the state of the home was, the emotional toll it took on the children was even more devastating. Deprived of any comfort or care, they were forced to survive in a world that had abandoned them. The children had no hygiene products to speak of, no access to proper medical care, and no one to tend to their emotional or psychological needs. They lacked the basic human necessities that every child deserves—clean water, proper food, and a sense of safety and security.

 

The children’s bedding was particularly heartbreaking—what little they had consisted of a mattress placed directly on the floor, with pizza boxes used as makeshift bedding. Their living situation had deteriorated to the point that even the simplest comforts, like a clean place to sleep, were denied to them. The pizza boxes they used to sleep on represented the extent of their ability to create any semblance of comfort in their world of neglect and abandonment.

The Children’s Fear

When deputies arrived at the scene, they were greeted with an image that would haunt them forever. The children, visibly traumatized, had locked themselves in the bathroom for safety. They were terrified, unsure of who might enter their home or what would happen next. In the midst of such a dire situation, the bathroom had become their sanctuary, the only place where they could feel any sense of control or protection. The children’s decision to lock themselves away in the bathroom highlights just how deep their fear ran, and how unsafe they must have felt in their own home.

 

Sheriff Michael Bouchard, who has spent years in law enforcement, stated that the discovery of the children in such a state of distress was unlike anything he had seen before. He called the situation one of the worst cases of child neglect he had ever encountered, emphasizing the sheer brutality of the conditions in which the children had been forced to live.

 

The Arrest of the Mother

Following the discovery of the children, law enforcement quickly turned their attention to their mother, who was eventually located and arrested at another location. The arrest of Hee Say Kellz brought a sense of closure to the immediate crisis, but it left many lingering questions about the depth of her neglect and her motives for abandoning her children in such a horrific manner. During questioning, she told deputies that the children’s father had no involvement in their lives, though law enforcement continues to investigate the role that both parents may have played in this appalling situation.

 

In interviews, Kellz reportedly stated that she had not seen her children for years and was unaware of the conditions they had been living in. This claim raises serious doubts, as it seems almost impossible that she would not have known the extent of her children’s suffering, especially given the regular drop-off of meals. Authorities are also questioning the truth of her statements, as they try to uncover the full scope of her involvement in her children’s lives during the time she abandoned them.

 

Ongoing Investigation and Legal Proceedings

The investigation into the case is still ongoing, with authorities piecing together the full story of the children’s abandonment. Law enforcement is working to determine if other individuals or agencies failed in their duties to intervene during the time the children were left alone. Were there neighbors, family members, or friends who knew of the children’s situation and failed to report it? Did social services miss signs of neglect or abuse? These are critical questions that law enforcement must answer as they continue to investigate.

 

At the same time, the legal proceedings against Hee Say Kellz are expected to be extensive. She has been arrested and charged in connection with the abandonment and neglect of her children, and further charges may follow depending on the outcome of the ongoing investigation. The emotional, psychological, and physical damage caused by years of neglect will undoubtedly play a role in the legal process as well.

 

The Road to Healing

While the immediate crisis has been addressed, the road to healing for these three children will be long and difficult. They are now in the custody of the authorities, and it is hoped that they will be placed in a safe and nurturing environment where they can begin to recover from the trauma they have experienced. However, the scars of their time spent in isolation and neglect will not easily fade, and the emotional toll of these years will require long-term care and therapy.

 

As the children begin their journey toward recovery, their case serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerable individuals in our society who are at risk of being neglected or abandoned. It is a tragic example of what can happen when children are left without support, without love, and without anyone to stand up for their well-being.

In the aftermath of the case, the local community has rallied around the children, offering support and comfort as they begin to rebuild their lives. Neighbors, friends, and even strangers have expressed their shock and outrage over the conditions the children endured. This outpouring of support is a reminder that, in the face of tragedy, there is always hope and compassion to be found.

Ultimately, the case of these three children is a heartbreaking story, but it is also a call to action for all of us to be more vigilant in recognizing signs of neglect and abuse and to ensure that no child is ever left to suffer in silence again. The investigation is far from over, but one thing is clear: the children of Pontiac, Michigan, have been given a second chance at life, and it is up to all of us to ensure that their future is bright and full of love.