The Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office will likely charge a Centralia woman with felony criminal mistreatment after her seven children were taken by Child Protective Services Sunday, Prosecutor Michael Golden said this morning.
Kristy Price, 30, has not yet been arrested by the Centralia Police Department, but Golden said he expects a referral in the coming days.
Centralia Police Sgt. Chris Fitzgerald said investigators are still working the case and taking in new leads. She said media coverage has resulted in new contacts with people who have had prior contact with Price and her children.
“We are following up on those, so I can’t say when an arrest will happen,” Fitzgerald said.
Price’s mother recently died, and a funeral has been scheduled. Fitzgerald said the police department was taking that into consideration and would not arrest Price before the funeral today.
CPS removed the children from the home at 502 W. Cherry St. Sunday morning. According to police, the house was littered with rotting garbage, broken glass and other safety and health hazards to children.
Fitzgerald said the scene was “deplorable and filthy.”
The children, ranging in age from 10 months to 12 years, were found sleeping around the house after Price reported that she was the victim of a robbery near Fullers in Centralia early Sunday morning but could not provide details of the alleged incident. Police said she also could not provide the name of her babysitter, leading them to release her and check the house for the children.
Golden said a charge of criminal mistreatment in the second degree, a class C felony, is likely. He said Price has a criminal history that includes at least one prior felony.
“My initial look at this thing is that we probably are going to press charges,” Golden said. “It’s the condition of the house, the number of children and the lack of food.”
Centralia Police also arrested Price’s babysitter, 20-year-old Shila Brennan of Centralia, Monday. According to police, Brennan was arrested on an outstanding misdemeanor warrant, and is a suspect in a burglary reported by Price.
Price had reported that someone kicked in the front door of the home and took $1,500 in cash Monday, according to police reports.
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Eric Schwartz: (360) 807-8245
