A Florida mother has been charged with child neglect after police found a loaded gun sitting on top of some Disney DVDs in her home, right where kids could easily grab it.
The trouble started on Saturday when deputies from the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office were called to a home in Palm Coast. A 16-year-old boy had reportedly pointed a gun at a group of people sitting in a car. When officers got a search warrant to look through the house, they discovered a shocking scene.
The home, owned by 37-year-old Amanda Gaisford, was in complete disarray. Gaisford lives there with four children—two of her own, aged 13 and 16, and two younger kids, ages 9 and 7, who were adopted by her late mother. What police found inside was alarming.
A loaded gun was sitting in the living room on top of DVDs like The Lion King, The Polar Express, and Harry Potter. It was within easy reach of the youngest kids, according to police. In one of the children’s bedrooms, they found marijuana paraphernalia, including baggies and pipes, as well as bullets hidden under a blanket. A gun magazine with 11 bullets was stuffed inside a clothes hamper.
The house itself was in terrible condition. There was no running water, and the toilets were filled with waste. Officers reported that the home was overrun with roaches, fleas, and other bugs. Trash, spoiled food, and clutter were everywhere, creating a foul smell that could be noticed even outside the house.
Police also found evidence of drug use, including bags with cocaine and marijuana residue, drug paraphernalia, and scattered prescription medication. The garage and bedrooms were particularly messy, with narcotics-related items lying around.
Gaisford admitted that she and the kids had been using a park restroom because the toilets in the house weren’t working. She was arrested on four counts of child neglect and is being held at the Flagler County Jail with a $10,000 bond. Meanwhile, the Florida Department of Children and Families took custody of the three younger children. The 16-year-old boy was also arrested for pointing the gun at people earlier in the day.
“This house was absolutely disgusting—no one, especially children, should have to live like this,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. He added that he was relieved authorities could intervene before one of the children was hurt or worse.
The sheriff’s office emphasized how dangerous it was to leave a loaded firearm in a home like this, especially with kids around. They also noted how the unsanitary and unsafe conditions could have caused serious harm to the children.
Now, the kids are safe, and Gaisford is facing serious consequences for what investigators described as “deplorable” living conditions.
