Woman accused of leaving kids with friend, saying she couldn’t handle them anymore
May 21st, 2009 by Ana X. Ceron
Theresa Platt
Theresa Platt, 34, left her 6-year-old son and twin 3-year-old boys with a Port St. Lucie woman on Wednesday, telling her, “I don’t want my kids, you can have them!”
The woman told Port St. Lucie police that she had driven to Platt’s home in the 300 block of Northeast Solida Drive and offered to take her kids to school. But Platt reportedly told her she didn’t want her children any more and gave the woman their sleeping bags.
The woman also showed police numerous bug bites across the children’s legs and arms. She said Platt and the children had been living in a home in the 400 block of Southeast Seahorse Drive, which was infested with ants.
The woman reported that Platt knew the children’s beds were infested with ants but continued letting them sleep there.
While investigating the incident, authorities learned that for the past three days Platt and the children had been living out of a garage converted into an efficiency, with the children sleeping on the floor.
The children were placed into the custody of the Department of Children and Families, and when authorities went to gather their clothing out of Platt’s vehicle, they saw the roaches climbing all over them.
St. Lucie County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Platt that afternoon.
Platt is being held in the St. Lucie County jail without bond. She faces three counts of child neglect.
Tags: abandonment, ant infestation, child neglect, Port St. Lucie police, roach infestation, St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office, Theresa Platt
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May 21st, 2009 at 3:40 pm
Thank God she gave them up and they weren’t seriously harmed. Who are any of us to Judge what this woman was going thru. You can never walk into another person’s shoes so we shouldn’t sit and condemn her….but thank God she didn’t critically hurt them.
May 21st, 2009 at 4:02 pm
This poor soul needs help. I’m sure she tried to do the best she could for her children. How can you arrest her?? Most likely - she and her children needed help, couldn’t get any, and she just couldn’t take it anymore…
At lease she didn’t burn them, hurt them or abandon them in the street; she took them to a “friend”.
May 21st, 2009 at 4:03 pm
At least she didn’t kill them like Susan Smith did her children. GIVE HER A BREAK - HELP THEM.
May 21st, 2009 at 4:08 pm
WTF? I don’t need to walk in her shoes to know she’s a worthless piece of garbage. I hope they never let that waste of flesh see her kids again.
May 21st, 2009 at 4:10 pm
I AM A MOTHER OF 5 children included triplets it get hard to but i look up to god for guidance and i thank she did a good job she left kids with a friend this young lady need help with housing and consulting she shouldnt be in jail what you respect living in garage please give her children back it gettttttttttttttttttt stressful look at the problem before you just charge her
May 21st, 2009 at 4:22 pm
I am a mother of 4 and grandmother of 2. In this day and age where the economy is so bad and people are not only losing their jobs but their homes and life savings, NO ONE should judge this woman. On the contrary, it’s obvious that she needs help and had no idea where to or who to turn to for that help. I hope and pray that the “system” will help her. I agree with other posts, she could have done worse to those children.
May 22nd, 2009 at 4:08 pm
Rich, are you the ex-husband? You sound like the typical male a*****e.
May 23rd, 2009 at 12:46 am
Hey Rich……………..There’s always one like you hiding under a nearby rock. Dreadlocks described you best and we’re waiting for an answer….are you the deadbeat father?
May 23rd, 2009 at 7:16 am
people who know the whole situation, know that she was offered help by everyone friends and family. she was addictied to pain meds and sold all thier food stamps and spent all thier money on them , also she has 2 other children beside these whom she also “gave away” 4 years ago.so before you have pity know the whole truth. thiers a whole lot more not said on the news.