EDINBURGH, Ind. — Nashville resident, Cheyanne Vernice Meredith, 21, has been charged with neglect after a seventh-month investigation into the well-being of her two children.
The investigation began when her 5-year-old boy reported to school tired, dirty and hungry. Teachers at the East Side Elementary School reported the boy would dive on the floor to pick up food dropped by classmates and he told them he was tired because he had to get up in the middle of the night to care for his 3-month-old sister.
Meredith was living in an Edinburgh home with relatives when the neglect was discovered. Police found animal feces, urine, trash, black mold on the boy’s bed and no clean clothes inside the home.
Reports indicate Meredith would leave the children alone while spending time with her boyfriend. She refused to cooperate with authorities and threatened to have case workers from the Department of Children Services arrested.
School officials gave the boy several boxes of clothes around Christmas, but he continued to wear the same outfits, sometimes nine days in a row.
A medical evaluation showed the 3-month-old girl was four pounds under weight.
Meredith was arrested and taken to the Johnson County Jail on September 14.