Investigation continues after 6 children found living in abandoned home

DAYTON — Police continue the investigation after six children were found living in an abandoned Dayton home.

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As reported on News Center 7 Daybreak, officers removed five children from a boarded-up house on Delphos Avenue with no utilities and no adults on Oct. 2.

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Body camera video shows Dayton Police officers being allowed into the home by the kids.

“Hey buddy, can you show them your other siblings real quick?” the officer asked. “You’re not in trouble. Yeah, you’re not in trouble. Can you show him your other siblings really quick?”

A welfare check turned into a Child Protective Services case.

Five children between the ages of 18 and 12 were placed in Montgomery County Children’s Services.

A 15-year-old boy was later placed with Children’s Services, and the youngest, a 4-year-old, was placed in the care of a relative.

According to city property records, no one was supposed to be living in the house. However, police believe the children were living there for about three weeks.

Police told our news crew that the mother was not there at that time. She was in the hospital.

The Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office is reviewing misdemeanor child endangerment charges against the mother.

Dayton Mayor Shenise-Turner Sloss released a statement on Wednesday.

“Six children are safe tonight, and that matters more than anything else I can say.

“I thank our police officers and our Montgomery County Children Services partners, who moved quickly and with care.

“I also thank every resident who has reached out with concern. That concern is the beginning of what this moment asks of us.

“We do not yet know everything about how these children came to be where they were, and I will not speculate. But I do know this: no child in Dayton should be without heat, water, or food. And I know that hardship in our city is often quieter than we think.

“In Dayton, households below the poverty line spend, on average, nearly a fifth of their income just on energy. Families fall behind on one bill, then another, and the lights go out without anyone outside the house knowing. That is not an excuse for anything. It is a reason for all of us to pay closer attention.

“So as the weather turns cold, I am asking every resident to stay alert and speak up. If you see children who appear to be alone or without care, a vacant house with signs that someone is staying inside, or a home that seems to have no heat or lights, make the call. You do not have to be certain. A call is not an accusation. It is how help arrives.

“The City will keep doing its part by securing and addressing vacant properties, saving the homes that can be saved, and investing in our neighborhoods block by block. But a city is not its buildings. It is its people.

“Community is a gift, and it is also a responsibility. Check on your neighbors. Know the children on your street. Refuse to look away. That is who Dayton is, and that is how we take care of one another.

“How to report:

If a child or anyone else is in immediate danger, call 911.
To report suspected child abuse or neglect, call Montgomery County Children Services’ 24-hour hotline at 937-224-KIDS (5437). Calls can be anonymous.
To report a vacant, open, or unsafe property, use the Dayton Delivers web portal (daytonohio.gov/daytondelivers) or call Housing & Inspections at 937-333-3867 or 937-333-8645.

If you need help:

Utility assistance: Contact Miami Valley Community Action Partnership about the HEAP Winter Crisis Program, which runs November 1, 2026, through March 31, 2027. 937-341-5000.
Food, shelter, and other needs: Call or text 211.

“The investigation is ongoing. To protect the children’s privacy, the City of Dayton will not release additional details at this time.”

News Center 7 will continue to update this developing story.

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