Parents Arrested After Florida High Schooler Shows up With Cockroaches in Backpack

Police in Florida arrested a man and woman on child neglect charges Tuesday after one of their children showed up to school in dirty clothes and with cockroaches in her backpack.

Officers showed up to a home in Deltona after an abuse hotline said a child was seen being pushed during a video call with them. A report also came in from a Volusia high school staff member about the child who turned up with the cockroaches in her bag.

Four children were living in the home, aged 8, 10, 15 and 16, the Volusia County Sheriff's Office told The Messenger.

An affidavit seen by The Messenger said the home “appeared to be completely infested” with cockroaches and other bugs, the bedsheets had not been washed in some time and over 200 cigarette butts littered the front of the property.

Samantha Acker, 37, and Christopher Rounds, 36, were both arrested on four counts of child neglect, with rounds also accused of resisting an officer.