PONTIAC, Michigan — A Michigan woman has pleaded no contest to multiple counts of first-degree child abuse after prosecutors said she abandoned her three children for years while living what authorities described as a “kid-free” lifestyle.

According to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office, Kelli Bryant, 35, admitted no contest to the charges in connection with the severe neglect of her three children, who were discovered living alone in an apartment under deplorable conditions.

Authorities say deputies responded to the Pontiac apartment in February after receiving a welfare check request. Inside, they found three children—an older boy and two younger girls—living without adult supervision in an environment filled with garbage, mold, and human waste. Investigators reported that trash was piled several feet high throughout the apartment, there was no running water, and the toilet was overflowing.

Prosecutors said the children had allegedly been left to care for themselves for years. They reportedly survived on limited food that was occasionally dropped off, while sleeping on pizza boxes and other makeshift bedding. The apartment was described as being heavily infested with insects, and officials said the children had little to no contact with the outside world during the period of neglect.

Meanwhile, investigators alleged that Bryant had been living elsewhere in cleaner conditions and appeared well-groomed, rarely visiting the children except to leave food or supplies.

Following her arrest, Bryant pleaded no contest, meaning she did not admit guilt but accepted that prosecutors had enough evidence to secure a conviction. A judge accepted the plea, and sentencing is scheduled for a later date. She faces the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence under Michigan law.

The three children were removed from the apartment and placed into protective care. Authorities said they are now receiving medical treatment, counseling, and other support services to help them recover from years of neglect.

Oakland County officials described the case as one of the most disturbing examples of child neglect they have encountered, emphasizing that the children’s resilience was remarkable despite the conditions they endured.

Source: Law&Crime, Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office, WDIV Local 4, FOX 2 Detroit.