ODESSA, Fla. — A Pasco County man is behind bars after investigators say they found a neglected and underweight 11-year-old boy living in deplorable conditions inside his home.
- Steven Skaggs Sr., 33, charged with child neglect
- Investigators: 11-year-old only weighed 59 pounds
- Child removed from home two weeks ago
Steven Skaggs Sr. is charged with child abuse. Neighbors say the 11-year-old boy found in Skaggs's home is Skaggs’s son.
That home is surrounded by overgrown trees, has broken windows and doors, and exudes a strong odor.
Investigators said they pushed past all of that in order to get inside and rescue the 11-year-old.
“I am so proud of our agency, our investigator, our law enforcement deputy, who was persistent in gaining access to that home," said Pasco County Sheriff’s Child Protection Investigator Kristine Fletcher. "They heard a small rumbling in the residence and they were not going to give up until they were inside that home.”
Reports show once inside they found the 11-year-old, who only weighed 59 pounds. That’s 30 pounds less than he weighed a year before, and it’s the weight of an 8-year-old.
Skaggs reportedly only fed the boy canned vegetables.
Neighbors said there were many warning signs.
“He looked extremely skinny and unfed, and even went over one day and knocked on the door of that trailer over there and asked the guy if he had any food, or if he could take him fishing because he was hungry,” said neighbor Royal Sherbet.
Sherbet said everyone on their street reached out to authorities, hoping to remove the child from these horrific conditions.
“I feel very sorry for him,” Sherbet said. “All of the neighbors, we tried and tried and tried to get somebody involved to be able to save the kid, basically, and he’s in that house, probably over a hundred degrees all day long by himself when kids are in school.”
Investigators said the 11-year-old boy hadn’t been in school for years. They noted the house had no electricity, no running water, and no means of contact in case of an emergency.
The child was removed from the home two weeks ago and has already gained ten pounds, according to officials.
Skaggs remains in the county jail.