Three girls, ages 10, 9, and 8, were abused by their parents: Greg Nelson, his wife Susan Nelson, and his girlfriend Melissa Hamilton, who lived with them. The girls were homeschooled.

The family lived with 245 animals in “deplorable” conditions, with rotting food and animal urine and feces throughout the house. The police were called to the home four times in the year prior to the girls’ rescue. One neighbor indicated she had regularly called the authorities about the family for three years. The family did not allow authorities to enter the home, so there was never enough evidence for a warrant.

The abuse came to light when Greg Nelson ended his relationship with the two women and attempted to take the children with him when he moved out of the home. Susan Nelson would not allow this, so Greg Nelson called the police for a welfare check on the children. When police observed the family’s living conditions, the Nelsons and Hamilton were charged with child abuse and animal cruelty. The children were placed with a family member.

Date: October 20, 2019
Location: Edgewater, Florida

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