Lake Charles, LA –
Yesterday afternoon, at approximately 2:00 p.m. Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to a home in Sulphur in reference to a welfare check on a 5 year old, special needs child, who lives at the home.
When deputies arrived they located the boy, naked, inside the home. Deputies learned his guardian had left him in the care of a disabled adult, who is unable to provide proper supervision for the child. Deputies observed the boy to be covered in feces and the home to be in deplorable conditions with human and animal feces all over. Deputies attempted to locate clothes for the child, but could not find any clothes for him at the home.
At approximately 4:30 p.m., while deputies were still on scene, the child’s caregiver and family member, Ouida W. Whatley, 42, Sulphur, arrived home. After speaking with deputies she was arrested and booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center and charged with cruelty to juveniles. Judge Tony Fazzio set her bond at $55,000.
The Department of Children and Family Services released the child to a family member.
CPSO Deputy Tristan Mount is the arresting deputy on this case. CPSO Detective Kara Adams is the lead investigator on this case.
An arrest is an indication that probable cause exists to believe the subject was involved in the offense alleged. A person is innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.