Couple arrested after two children were found walking down road alone

LAKE CHARLES, LA (NBC33) — A couple is locked up after their two children were found walking down the road alone.

The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office reports that the incident occurred on Sunday, Jan. 27 at approximately 10:30 a.m. We’re told a caller reported seeing two young children wearing diapers walking down the street alone in Lake Charles.

Deputies located the children and identified their home. Deputies say the guardians, Brent J. Nelson, 30, and Carrie D. Hoffpauir, 25, were sleeping when they arrived.

Officials report that the condition of the home was “extremely foul,” which included food, clothes and dishes with mildew and the strong odor of stagnant food.

Both Nelson and Hoffpauir were arrested and charged with two counts of Cruelty to a Juvenile and two counts of Child Desertion. They were booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center.

The children were removed from the home and placed with a family member. Officials did not provide the exact relationship of the children to each suspect.