A trio were jailed by the Polk County Police after children who had left a home they were staying in was found to be in squalid conditions, according to reports.

PCPD arrested Candace Leann Freeman, 25; Brandy Richards, 42; and Lawrence Richards, 42; all of the same Church Street address in Rockmart, were all charged with a single felony count each of cruelty to children when the home the trio kept children in was found uninhabitable by officers.

Police initially got involved when a call came into juveniles who were found outside of Tri City Pawn in Rockmart and questioned as to why they had left. Officers reported that one of the adults told the youth to “hitch hike if they want to see their mom” at work.

When police found their grandparents at the Church Street residence, they questioned why the juveniles had gotten out, and inspected the house. Police noted in their report that there was no running water or electricity, and they found hay and animal feces throughout the house.

The Department of Family and Children Services took the juveniles into their custody for their protection due to the conditions found inside the residence.

Polk County Police charged the three, who were all booked into the Polk County Jail on the single felony charge.

All three were later released on a $5,000 bond on the single felony charge each.