The neighbor could not wake the couple because they were out cold, the records say. Officers said they found prescription narcotics, smoking devices and needles in the room.
It is a discovery that has led to felony child abuse charges against Moore, 26, and Robey, 33, who were being held without bond in Prince William County. It is the second time Moore has been charged in connection with her children; she lost custody of her twin sons six years ago after she fell asleep and lost track of the boys, who wandered to the side of a busy road.
Law enforcement and social services officials said they are nearly powerless to protect children born to a parent who has faced earlier neglect charges associated with other children. There must be evidence of abuse before officials can intervene, Commonwealth’s Attorney Paul B. Ebert said.
Those who know Moore and Robey said they have struggled with drugs and financial problems, and Ebert said he thinks this case was related to substance abuse. The girls appeared to have been contained in the room for less than a day and were not physically harmed, police said.
Prince William police said the Loft Court neighbor tore down a drywall “half-wall” Saturday to get to the children. She bathed them there and took them to her home, then called police. Officers said the room and its windows were covered in feces, according to a criminal complaint.
“This is a very serious case,” Ebert said. “From [Moore’s] history, it is clear she has no business being a parent or guardian.”
An attorney for Moore declined to comment. It could not be determined whether Robey had obtained a lawyer.
The three girls were turned over to officials with Prince William’s Child Protective Services, who placed them in an emergency foster care home. Janine Sewell, director of the county’s Department of Social Services, said she could not give details about the case or say whether there were previous complaints about Moore or Robey. She said the department was cooperating with police.
Parents dealing with substance abuse are often able to conceal problems in their homes, Sewell said. “With young children, it is more up to a family member to report a situation, because nobody else is seeing them in school or out in public,” she said.
Court records show that Moore was arrested in June 2005 when her sons, then 22 months old, managed to leave a junkyard trailer where she was sleeping and toddled out to the shoulder of Route 234 in Dumfries. A motorist pulled over and flagged down a Virginia State Police trooper.
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