A Florida couple, Sanel Canovic and Azra Nikocevic, were arrested after authorities discovered their five children left alone in a dire and unsafe living situation. The investigation began when a concerned passerby noticed a 6-year-old boy wandering alone in the street. The boy led officers to his home, where they found four other children, all under the age of 12, in distressing conditions. The children were without food, electricity, or a functioning toilet, and they had reportedly been hungry for over 12 hours. Officers immediately took the children to the police station, where they were fed.
Upon further investigation, the conditions inside the home were revealed to be appalling. The toilet was filled with feces, and the children had to shower after using the bathroom, as there was no toilet paper. The apartment lacked electricity, which had been turned off for approximately two months due to unpaid bills. The children explained that they had been relying on meals at school for breakfast and lunch, but since it was Christmas break, they were left without food. Their mother had allegedly left them $20 for food at McDonald’s before going to work, but the children had no way to confirm whether they had eaten anything.
The children were described as wearing soiled clothing and smelling of urine. They also mentioned that their parents would often leave them at home while they went out to dinner, sometimes sharing meals without providing food for their children. Officers attempted to contact the parents, but they were initially unreachable. Nikocevic eventually arrived at the police station, where she explained that the lack of electricity was due to overdue bills and that she had given the children money for food but had no way of knowing whether they used it.
Canovic, who had also been located by police, declined to speak without legal representation and was subsequently taken into custody. He was held on a $7,500 bond, while Nikocevic was released on her own recognizance. Both parents are facing charges of child neglect without bodily harm. The children were placed in the care of authorities, and their next court date is scheduled for the end of January.
This case highlights the severe neglect and unsafe living conditions the children were subjected to, as well as the lack of proper care and attention from their parents. It serves as a reminder of the critical importance of providing children with basic needs such as food, shelter, and hygiene, and ensuring that they are not left in dangerous situations. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to determine the full extent of the neglect.
