Woman Charged in Case of Severe Child Neglect in Eastern Connecticut: State Police

WILLIMANTIC, CT — State police on Tuesday said they have made an arrest in what they are describing as a major case of child neglect involving the Willimantic office of the state Department of Children and Families and a home in Danielson.

Donna Rodeheffer, 33, was charged with negligent cruelty to persons and risk of injury to a child, state police said. She was being held on a $150,000 bond while awaiting a court appearance, state police said.

The investigation began in July, when the Eastern District Major Crime Square received a call from the Willimantic DCF office about a home in Danielson, state police said.

Children aged 3, 5 and 6 were under the care of Rodeheffer and Nicholas Emory, 24, at the home, according to an arrest report. The children were referred to DCF and an investigation revealed the children were missing teeth, could barely speak, hardly left the home, were malnourished, dehydrated and were still in diapers, according to an arrest report.

DCF took over the care of the children, according to an arrest report,

State police determined they were never enrolled in a school, according to an arrest report.

Rodeheffer, who had been living in Webster, MA, surrendered on Tuesday, state police said.

Emory is currently in custody in Arizona on an Connecticut warrant for charges related to child pornography and will be brought back east to face charges in the child neglect case, state police said.

Photo Credit: The booking mug shot of Rodeheffer was furnished by state police