Mother of four accused of child neglect

A Sunridge woman was held on $100,000 bail Tuesday after officers investigating a traffic accident discovered four children living in squalor in their Desert Drive home.

Tamara Cox, 27, was jailed on four charges of child abuse and neglect. She is to appear Friday in East Fork Justice Court.

The children, whom officers said appeared healthy, were turned over to their great-grandmother.

Deputies and state Child Protective Services officials were called to the residence in the 990 block of Desert Drive by a Nevada Highway Patrol officer who was investigating a hit-and-run accident.

A Douglas County sheriff's deputy reported an overwhelming odor of urine and feces when he entered the home. He said the front entrywas dirty with dried mud and unknown substances.

He contacted Cox who showed him where her children, ages 2 through 12, slept. He said the hallway was caked with feces and stained with urine.

The two boys and two girls slept in separate bedrooms so covered with clutter and old food the deputy could not see the floor. He said the sink, toilet and tub in the bathroom were dirty and there were soiled diapers and feces on the floor.

He said the kitchen was overflowing with trash, discarded food and dirty dishes.

The deputy said a brisket with an Aug. 2 sell date was on the stove top. Cox told the deputy she had just defrosted the meat the night before.

While officers were at the scene, the children's great-grandmother arrived and agreed to take custody.

She told deputies she quit coming to the residence because of living conditions.

Two cats and a dog also at the residence were turned over to Douglas Animal Care & Services.

Charges were pending against 27-year-old Shawn Cox.