Two young children in Waukesha, Wisconsin were discovered living in cockroach-infested squalor while their parents, now fugitives after skipping court, were allegedly more concerned with drug activities than providing basic care for their abandoned toddlers.
Key Takeaways
- Jessica Borkert and James Domoracki face child abandonment charges after their children, ages 2 and 4, were found living in deplorable conditions with a grandmother physically unable to care for them.
- The couple failed to appear for their court date, resulting in warrants being issued for their arrest.
- Court documents described the children as “in a completely wild, unkept state” with one child showing signs of physical neglect including bruises and matted hair.
- Text messages between the parents revealed evidence of narcotics use and drug trade while their children went without proper food and supplies for approximately two months.
- The case joins other recent child neglect incidents across the country, highlighting a disturbing pattern of parental negligence.
Children Found in Deplorable Living Conditions
On January 9, authorities in Waukesha made a disturbing discovery when they found two young children, ages 2 and 4, living in what court documents described as “a complete and total mess.” The apartment was severely cluttered and infested with cockroaches, creating an environment wholly unsuitable for children. Neither child could speak, both were dirty, and one had visible bruises and matted hair. The children had reportedly been left primarily in the care of their grandmother, who suffered from mobility issues that made it impossible for her to properly attend to their needs or maintain sanitary living conditions.
“The children were found in a completely wild, unkept state,” according to court documents.
Parents’ Evasion and Neglect
Jessica Borkert and James Domoracki, the children’s parents, failed to appear for their scheduled court hearing, prompting the issuance of arrest warrants. When initially questioned by investigators, Borkert claimed she was working in Grafton and staying at a motel in Oak Creek, but was described as “evasive” when asked about how she was supporting her children. Domoracki admitted to investigators that he had attempted to send food and diapers but had run out of money. Evidence indicates that the children had been without adequate food, supplies, and healthcare for approximately two months prior to their discovery.
Further investigation revealed disturbing details about the parents’ priorities. Text messages between Borkert and Domoracki contained evidence of narcotics use and drug trade, suggesting that their substance habits took precedence over the welfare of their children. The grandmother, while present in the home, was physically incapable of providing the necessary care, creating a dangerous situation of effective abandonment despite technically having an adult present in the residence.
Similar Cases Highlight Nationwide Problem
The Waukesha case is unfortunately not isolated. In Upshur County, another couple, Trevor A. Howell and Catara A. White, was recently arrested after authorities discovered young children living in hazardous conditions with garbage and bloody animal feces throughout the home. Similarly, in Calhoun, Georgia, Alexandra Woodward and John McHugh faced child cruelty charges for leaving her eight and 10-year-old sons home alone with access to alcoholic beverages and nicotine vapes, though their charges were reportedly reduced from first-degree cruelty to reckless conduct.
“The new law states parents can decide when their children are mature enough to be left home alone, unless the parent showed ‘intentional disregard’ of a ‘serious and imminent risk,'” said Lenore Skenazy.
Authorities Respond to Growing Crisis
These cases highlight the critical role of protective services and law enforcement in identifying and responding to child neglect situations. In the Georgia case, the Division of Family and Children Services advised that the children should go with their father after he discovered they had been left alone and contacted police. While Georgia law does not specify a minimum age for leaving children home alone, it does recommend that children under eight not be left unsupervised and those between nine and twelve be left alone for no more than two hours.
The Waukesha situation represents a particularly severe case of neglect, with the children effectively abandoned in conditions unfit for human habitation with a caretaker physically unable to meet their basic needs. The parents’ decision to skip their court appearance further demonstrates their unwillingness to take responsibility for the welfare of their children, leaving authorities to continue their search while the children hopefully receive the proper care and attention they have been denied for months.
