PROSPERITY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Three people have been arrested in Raleigh County after a 10-year-old reported she was not being fed. The responding deputy stated the living conditions were some of the worst he had seen in his 10 years of law enforcement.
According to a criminal complaint, on Thursday, July 18, 2024, a welfare check at a residence in Prosperity revealed poor living conditions.
A deputy with the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by a family member who reported that her 10-year-old niece was left home alone by her stepmother while her father was at work.
The 10-year-old victim had messaged her aunt that she was scared and had not eaten.
Upon arrival at the residence on Judson St., the responding deputy found the yard overgrown and littered with trash.
The house was in severe disrepair, with a collapsed front porch, raised shingles on the roof, and siding covered in mildew.
The backyard was equally alarming, with a large amount of trash and a pool filled with dark, green water.
The deputy announced his presence and requested the victim to come outside. After 18 minutes, the victim emerged, followed by an adult female, Veda Smith, the victim’s stepmother, holding an infant.
Veda claimed she did not hear the deputy knocking and stated that she, her husband, Christopher O’Bryan, and their infant had been living there for two years with her mother Edna Smith.
Further investigation revealed that the dogs at the residence had never been outside or visited a vet.
Animal Control arrived and took custody of the neglected dogs.
Veda allowed police to enter the house.
Inside, they found un-walkable floors covered in trash, cobwebs, dirty diapers, and animal feces.
Rats and a strong toxic smell from urine-filled bottles were also present.
The victim reported that she had been living in these conditions for a few days, had not eaten properly, and felt unsafe.
The victim’s mother arrived to take custody of her daughter.
Child Protective Services (CPS) permitted Christopher and Veda to remain as caretakers under the condition they relocate to a family member’s home.
The house was deemed unsafe for habitation, and a copy of the house walkthrough video was sent to CPS for further action.
The deputy described the living conditions as some of the worst he had seen in his 10 years of law enforcement.
Vada Smith, 25; Edna Smith, 50; and Christopher O’Bryan, 30, all from Prosperity, have been arrested and charged with child neglect creating a risk of injury, child neglect creating a substantial risk of serious bodily injury, and three counts of animal cruelty.
