Girl calls police for deplorable conditions at home; mother arrested

A young girl called police on Tuesday to complain about the deplorable conditions in her home, leading to her mother’s arrest.

When Pittsburgh police arrived at the Overbrook home in the 2000 block of Dartmore Street, they spoke with the girl, a third-grader, who is referred to as Jane Doe in the criminal complaint.

She told them her mother, Monica Bailey, 40, is an alcoholic and drinks all day, according to the complaint, and does not clean or cook. The girl also said Bailey physically and verbally abuses her every day.

When one of the officers entered the home, he “immediately noticed trash covering the entire house,” according to the complaint, and found Bailey in the living room with a glass of wine, heavily intoxicated.

After initially saying everything was fine and she wasn’t drunk, Bailey admitted she was depressed over the recent death of her father and had been drinking, according to the complaint. She also said she was unable to care for a child.

Every room in the house was covered in trash and food, and the officer found a bed with no linens but covered in clothes, according to the complaint. The toilet “looked as if it had not been flushed in some time.” The refrigerator was empty and covered in spilled food and liquids.

Old food and dirty dishes covered the kitchen and the basement was filled with water, according to the complaint. The officer found liquor bottles and a large pile of cigarette butts in one corner of the basement, as well.

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When he returned to the living room to speak with Bailey, she agreed the conditions were not acceptable for a child, according to the complaint.

The girl told police she often stayed with her grandmother, Judy Bailey, so officers asked her to come to the home, according to the complaint. She said Monica Bailey had been “this way” for a long time, and that the issues had begun before the death of Bailey’s father. She said she had attempted to have Bailey “302’d” – or involuntarily committed for a mental health examination – several times but had not been successful.

Judy Bailey told police she was frightened for her granddaughter’s safety and would take care of her for as long as necessary, according to the complaint.

Officers placed the girl in Judy Bailey’s custody and arrested Monica Bailey for endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 24.

Neighbors told

they did not know what was going on inside the home.

"I feel for the girl," said Frank Szemanski. "Something that should never happen period, no excuses. Who knows what happens to people's minds."

Szemanski has lived in this neighborhood for more than 30 years, and said he never noticed anything unusual outside the home.

"Who knows what goes on behind closed doors," he said. "I hope the mom gets the help she needs and hope the little girl gets a lot of support."

Cox Media Group