An 8-year-old autistic girl was found wandering naked and barefoot outside a Palm Coast, Florida home last week, leading investigators to discover that she and her two siblings had been living in a residence saturated with human waste, according to a probable cause affidavit filed by the Flagler County Sheriff's Office.
Background
Deputies responded to a home on Wood Amber Lane after receiving a request for a welfare check on an 8-year-old child seen wandering outside unclothed. The girl, identified in court records as "E.N.," had been diagnosed with autism and was nonverbal. Before deputies arrived, a neighbor found the child and returned her to the residence.
Carla E. Nishikura, 41, told investigators her daughter had "a history of eloping" and had left the house through the garage while Nishikura was asleep. According to the affidavit, Nishikura said she normally secured interior door handles with zip ties but "forgot to do so the night prior," allowing the child to open the doors and exit on foot.
The Investigation
After obtaining Nishikura's consent to enter the residence, a responding deputy reported being immediately met with "a strong odor consistent with fecal matter."
According to the affidavit, investigators found "fecal matter coating the floors, walls, and ceiling" throughout the kitchen and living room. Inside the home, the 8-year-old was observed "naked and barefoot," while two additional children were also present.
The deputy documented that E.N.'s bedroom contained only a bed frame without a mattress, with the floor covered in "fecal matter, cracked eggs, and urine." Nishikura told investigators her daughter had been sleeping on the living room couch because her bedroom was contaminated.
During the investigation, authorities observed the child "using a tool to scrape fecal matter from the wall and manipulate it with her hands." Investigators also reported finding cracked electrical outlet covers throughout the residence, leaving exposed wiring accessible to the children.
The affidavit states that Nishikura identified a case manager who had been assisting the family. The deputy contacted the woman, who said she had arranged for a professional cleaning company to service the home, but the crew refused because of the "biohazard conditions." The case manager also reported having personally visited the residence the previous day and filed a report with the Florida Department of Children and Families due to the home's condition.
One of the other children reportedly told deputies they had been instructed not to enter E.N.'s bedroom because of the biohazard. According to the affidavit, the child said the fecal matter had accumulated for approximately one month and described it as "hard as a rock."
Investigators reported that Nishikura admitted she was aware of the home's condition but said she was "unable to manage her home and children on her own." The Department of Children and Families accepted the abuse report and dispatched an investigator to the scene for an immediate response.
The Charges
Nishikura was arrested and charged with three felony counts of child neglect. Authorities allege she willfully neglected to provide "a clean and safe living environment," failed to provide necessary accommodations for her children, and exposed them to biohazard materials.
She was transported to the Flagler County Jail without incident. Her bond was set at $7,500, and she is scheduled to appear in court for arraignment on Aug. 18.
Key Takeaways
- The 8-year-old victim was nonverbal and had been diagnosed with autism, with a documented history of wandering away from home
- Investigators found fecal matter coating floors, walls, and ceilings throughout the kitchen and living room
- A professional cleaning company previously refused to service the residence due to biohazard conditions
- The child's bedroom was so contaminated she had been sleeping on a couch in the living room
- Exposed wiring and cracked electrical outlets were accessible to all three children in the home
- Nishikura allegedly admitted knowing about the conditions but said she couldn't manage the situation alone
What's Next
Nishikura is scheduled for arraignment on Aug. 18, where she will face the three felony child neglect charges. The Florida Department of Children and Families has an open investigation into the family's circumstances. All three children have been removed from the home and placed in protective custody while the case proceeds.