Eisenhower Special Needs Student Found Living in Squalor: COPS

BLUE ISLAND, IL -- An 18-year-old special needs student and her eight siblings were found living in squalor last week in Blue Island, police said. The squalid conditions were discovered on Oct. 24 during a well being check. The children’s father and his girlfriend have both been charged with child abuse and neglect and are currently being held in Cook County Jail.

Blue Island police said in a news release that officers went to conduct a well-being check on the 18-year-old girl, who has the mental capacity of a small child, at the request of Eisenhower High School. The high school’s resource officer, John Murray, and other Blue Island police officers went to the student’s home in the 1800 block of West Vermont. There, officers were immediately encountered by a “pungent odor of filth” inside the home, police said.

According to police, urine and fecal matter covered the bedding and carpets. There was a small amount of food in the home, along with sticky floors and dirty dishes. The roof of the house was also found to be caving in. Police said there were five beds for nine children and two adults in the home.

Officers also found a bedroom with a portable toilet and mattress on the floor. There were no working lights and both the doors and windows were secured with bars and wood to prevent escape, police said. The 18-year-old girl is believed to have been locked in the room while her father went to work.

The Blue Island building inspector declared the house unfit for occupancy due to its unsanitary conditions. Officers placed the nine children into protective custody and began working with the Illinois Department of Family and Children Services.

The children’s father, Charles Hopkins, 59, and his 38-year-old girlfriend, Marinda Hicks, were each charged with 18 felony counts of child abuse and neglect. Bail for Hopkins was set at $100,000 and $50,000 for Hicks during a weekend bond hearing at the Leighton Criminal Courts Building.

After the hearing, Hopkins’ private attorney, Elliot Zinger, told ABC 7 Chicago that there was "a lot more to the story" than what prosecutors claimed. Hopkins has no prior criminal background.

Commander Jason Slattery also issued a statement on behalf of the Blue Island Police Department:

"The sympathy and hearts of the Blue Island Police Department go out to the children affected, their families and the community as a whole. We will continue to work with community partners, other law enforcement agencies and DCFS to reduce crimes against children.”

Both Hopkins and Hicks are due back in court Nov. 2 in Markham.