In Chattanooga, a routine welfare check turned into a disturbing discovery: two small children, only wearing diapers, were found in a home so unsanitary and hazardous that officers described it as roach-infested and cluttered to the point of no clear walkway. The parents—a man registered as a sex offender and his girlfriend—have now been charged with child neglect amid one of the city’s more severe domestic safety investigations.
Filthy Home and Disturbing Conditions
Law enforcement say they arrived at the residence of 35-year-old Leon Woods and 30-year-old Carol Phillips on a welfare call late Friday evening. According to the affidavit, officers could not access the front door easily due to obstructive furniture. Upon entry, they encountered overpowering odours of rotting food and body waste, while roaches were crawling over the porch, furniture and even the officers themselves. Inside the home, one toddler was seen crawling on the floor wearing only a diaper. The floor was sticky and covered in insects. Further inspection revealed a one-year-old lying face-down on a bunk mattress strewn with nails, full trash bags blocked pathways, and a metal gate over the window in the child’s bedroom.
Parental History & Neglect Charges
While searching records on Leonard Woods, investigators discovered he is listed on the sex offender registry for previous convictions involving a minor in Tennessee and Georgia. He and Phillips were both hand-cuffed and booked on two counts of child neglect each, connected to the conditions inside the home and the young ages of the children involved. Authorities stated Woods claimed he had been trying to clean the house, but Phillips refused to let him finish so. Meanwhile, there was difficulty finding edible, safe food in the refrigerator; when opened, the fridge was reportedly crawling with roaches.
What’s Next & Why It Matters
The case highlights how child welfare and home safety checks can reveal far deeper risks than expected. Local child protective services are now involved, and the children have been placed into protective custody. The couple remains in custody and will appear in court on neglect charges. This incident underscores the ongoing need for homes with infants and toddlers to be safe, hygienic and free from hazards—conditions far removed from what was found in this Chattanooga residence.
