HARRIS COUNTY – The grandfather accused of leaving his five grandchildren home alone without food or running air conditioning amid hot temperatures faced a judge early Wednesday.
Kevin Turner, 53, is charged with one count of endangering a child. His bond was set at $10,000.
All five children, between the ages of 9 and 16, are now in the care of Child Protective Services, a spokesperson confirmed Tuesday.
Precinct 4 deputy constables went to the home on Rolling Creek Drive near Spring Monday afternoon after a woman called 911 with concerns about the kids’ welfare.
“A couple of them went to a local food store and were caught stealing food inside the food store,” Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman said.
The children were estimated to have been alone for 24 hours. They appeared to feel unwell and deputies didn’t observe food or running air conditioning, Herman said.
“They were forbidden from running the air conditioning unless the grandfather was there,” he said. “The house is infested with roaches and just total trashy inside.”
Their grandfather, Turner, had custody of the children. He showed up at the home amid the investigation as deputies were talking to prosecutors about potential charges. Herman said they were instructed to take him into custody at that time based on the evidence.
Medics took the kids to Texas Children’s Hospital in The Woodlands where they were evaluated and treated by doctors, Herman said. They were released to Child Protective Services custody after.
Herman said the case renews the important message of seeing something and saying something.
“This could have been a tragedy. But I do believe it was averted by the reportee calling into our office,” he said.
Turner is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday morning. Herman said additional charges are possible as the investigation continues.