CCSO arrests woman for child neglect, found a dead cat in her freezer

A woman was arrested for child neglect after deputies searched her Port Charlotte home on Saturday. The deputies said her children were living in deplorable conditions — among an abundance of feces, bugs and trash.

Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office said Melissa Langstine-Troyano, 40, faces three charges of child neglect for failing to provide adequate care and shelter for the three children. The deputies received a tip regarding repulsive conditions the children were living in, leading them to approach the residence.

Upon their arrival, the deputies were greeted with a pungent smell mixed with feces and urine emanating from the front door.

The deputies asked Troyano if her kids were home, and she said they were not. They then asked if they could search the home to ensure the kids were not there. Troyano stated that if Florida Department of Children and Families or the deputies entered the home, then she would go to jail.

Troyano then burst to the door, seeking to close it from the deputies snooping around inside. However, she was not fast enough. The deputies detained her and entered the home.

It was challenging to navigate inside, per the police report. Laundry was pilled around the house, impeding a clear pathway to conduct their search, along with trash such as dishes with uneaten food on them.

In the garage, a broken freezer was plugged into the wall, surrounded by trash. Within the freezer was meat with an 2013 expiration date, along with a converse box with a dead cat inside.

Her ex-husband, William Langstine, said Troyano has been on a downward spiral for several years. Langstine, 44, said Troyano has been secretive about the home and hasn’t allowed him inside it for the last couple of months.

While the children smelled of feces and urine, according to the police report, Troyano smelled pleasant and had a well-kept appearance. One person close to Troyano said she hasn’t cleaned the house since late 2016.