Police: 10-year-old girl found in 'deplorable' living conditions

Danielle Ferguson
Argus Leader

Police removed a 10-year-old girl from "deplorable" living conditions after officers found drugs, animal feces and maggots at her parents' central Sioux Falls home. 

The girl's parents were arrested Wednesday on multiple charges, including abuse and neglect, after police searched the home based on a tip of a dead animal in the 100 block of South Lyndale Avenue, said police spokesman Sam Clemens.

Garbage was piled outside of the house, maggots lined the driveway going to the house, Clemens said. Police smelled marijuana coming from the home when a man answered the door.

"The inside of the house was just as bad, if not worse," Clemens said. 

Three men in the house came outside. Police found one woman hiding under a bed. She told officers she was the only one in the house, but officers found the 10-year-old girl hiding behind a dresser, Clemens said. 

"The living conditions were probably 'deplorable' would be the best word I could use," Clemens said. 

The home didn't have electricity or running water, and there wasn't much food in the house. The basement was full of garbage, cat litter, feces and urine. Officers also found a small amount of meth and marijuana. 

Heather Sue Schwartz, 42, and Adam Elliot Swalley, 38, were arrested on charges of abuse and neglect, maintaining a place where controlled substances are used and inhabiting a room where drugs are used, Clemens said. Schwartz was also charged with controlled substance and paraphernalia. 

The girl did not need medical attention and was taken into protective custody, Clemens said. 

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