DAYTON CHILD TAKEN FROM ‘DEPLORABLE’ HOME DIES

Child died after being found in Dayton house with 16 dead animals.

A 21-month-old girl died Monday after being taken from a Dayton home called not fit “for people or pets” and where 16 dead animals were found.

The Montgomery County Coroner’s Office identified the toddler as Arez Marie Isabella Schrodi, who was unresponsive when she was taken early Sunday morning from a home on South Torrence Street.

Dayton police didn’t say what kind of injuries Arez suffered, but investigators did not think the 15 dead snakes and one dead cat at the residence had anything to do with her death.

“We don’t have anything as far as the cause of injuries and stuff, exactly,” Dayton police Lt. Gregg Gaby said Monday, adding that no arrests had been made. “We’re still under investigation at this point.”

The Montgomery County Coroner’s Office would not say if the girl’s cause of death has been ruled, or if they’ve completed an autopsy.

A Montgomery County Children Services spokesman said there was an open case involving an adult at 115 S. Torrence St. A Dayton police report indicated at least four adults were in the home along with at least three children.

The dispatch log of the 911 call indicates the child’s grandmother went to check on the child, found her not breathing and family members tried to revive her.

“Oh, my God,” one family member said several times. “C’mon, baby girl.

“I’m in the medical field, I shouldn’t be wigging out, but this is my grand baby.”

Dayton police contacted animal control investigators, who found the dead animals. A living boa constrictor-type snake, a rabbit and a dog were located and removed from the house.

“Unfortunately, it was more of a recovery than a rescue,” said Mark Kumpf, Montgomery County Animal Control director. “The conditions inside weren’t fit for people or pets . ... The conditions overall were not fit, nothing provided for animals in terms of food and water.”

A rusty chain-link fence enclosed the front yard of the two-story house. A lot of garbage and miscellaneous debris covered the area surrounding the front porch, which is partially covered with a makeshift roof.

One neighbor said he asked officials about the situation.

“That the home was deplorable and they were going to take the kids away and they did,” said Gene Smith.