Kelli Bryant, 35, was sentenced Tuesday to six to 30 years in prison after pleading no contest to three counts of child abuse for abandoning her three children in a filthy Pontiac condominium while she lived separately and maintained a kid-free lifestyle.
Background
Oakland County Sheriff's deputies discovered the children during a welfare check at Bryant's condominium in February 2025. The home was described by authorities as overrun with garbage stacked approximately four feet high, human feces throughout including in the bathtub, an overflowing toilet, and widespread mold.
The three minors—ages 15, 13, and 12 at the time of discovery—told investigators they had been left to fend for themselves since 2020 or 2021. According to police testimony, the children spent their days watching television and playing video games while Bryant and a stranger periodically dropped off food.
The living conditions were severe enough that deputies noted one son slept on a mattress on the floor while his two sisters slept directly on pizza boxes. The children's toenails had grown so long they reportedly had difficulty walking.
The Charges
Sheriff's Detective John Brish testified during a preliminary hearing that when he interviewed Bryant, she arrived well-groomed with her nails and hair done. According to Brish's testimony, Bryant admitted: "I hurt my children. I sacrificed my children, probably."
Bryant pleaded no contest to three counts of child abuse on July 16 before Oakland County Sixth Circuit Court Judge Mary Ellen Brennan. She also pleaded guilty to welfare fraud for accepting public assistance payments intended to support her children during the years she abandoned them.
Sentencing
During Tuesday's sentencing hearing, Judge Brennan addressed Bryant directly about the conditions her children endured.
"The toilet was not working and overflowing. Human feces in the bathtub, so they couldn't have access to that," Brennan said, according to courtroom coverage by Detroit Fox affiliate WJBK. "If the Department of Corrections housed you the way you housed them, you'd file a lawsuit against them. And you'd win."
Brennan later told Bryant: "During this time, your needs were met. Not perfectly, but you moved about in the world. You used toilets that flush. You had human contact. You had your physical needs met. And you were not sleeping on pizza boxes, surrounded by filth."
Key Takeaways
- Bryant was sentenced to six to 30 years in prison on three counts of child abuse
- Her children told police they had been alone since 2020 or 2021—approximately five years
- The home contained garbage four feet high, feces throughout the home and bathtub, and pervasive mold
- Children were unaware of basic self-care; toenails so long they impaired walking
- Bryant also pleaded guilty to welfare fraud for collecting benefits meant for children she abandoned
- Parental rights terminated in April 2026; all three children placed with relatives
What's Next
With a minimum sentence of six years, Bryant will not be eligible for parole until after all three of her children reach adulthood. She remains incarcerated at the Michigan Department of Corrections as she serves her sentence.