Man charged with child neglect after children found living in deplorable conditions

NICHOLAS COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A Clay County man faces four counts of child neglect charges.

According to deputies, on July 22, 2021, in Nicholas county, Royal Blankenship neglected four juveniles left in his care by keeping children in a home with deplorable conditions.  The home had dog feces all over the children’s mattress where they were supposed to sleep.

Deputies also noticed the children covered in what appeared to be flea bites from several dogs and cats that were inside the home.  The home had a foul odor of what smelled like animal urine, and it was swarming with flies.  The children were filthy and appeared not to have been bathed for some time, nor had any dental care for over a year.

The children’s ages ranged between 5 and 14-years-old.

Blankenship is out on a 10,000 dollar bond.