Crime Fix with Angenette Levy - Strange Twist After Florida Mom's Kids Found in Home With Roaches and Feces

Episode Date: July 13, 2025

Deputies with the Indian River County Sheriff's Office went to a home in May where Autumn Witt was living with her two children and other people. They found the home smelled of urine and had feces inside. Deputies and child protective services workers found the children dirty. Witt was later charged with two counts of child neglect. But then the prosecutor dropped the case. Law&Crime's Angenette Levy looks at why in this episode of Crime Fix — a daily show covering the biggest stories in crime.PLEASE SUPPORT THE SHOW: Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code CRIMEFIX at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: http://incogni.com/crimefixHost:Angenette Levy  https://twitter.com/Angenette5Producer:Jordan ChaconCRIME FIX PRODUCTION:Head of Social Media, YouTube - Bobby SzokeSocial Media Management - Vanessa BeinVideo Editing - Daniel CamachoGuest Booking - Alyssa Fisher & Diane KayeSTAY UP-TO-DATE WITH THE LAW&CRIME NETWORK:Watch Law&Crime Network on YouTubeTV: https://bit.ly/3td2e3yWhere To Watch Law&Crime Network: https://bit.ly/3akxLK5Sign Up For Law&Crime's Daily Newsletter: https://bit.ly/LawandCrimeNewsletterRead Fascinating Articles From Law&Crime Network: https://bit.ly/3td2IqoLAW&CRIME NETWORK SOCIAL MEDIA:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawandcrime/Twitter: https://twitter.com/LawCrimeNetworkFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/lawandcrimeTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/lawandcrimenetworkTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lawandcrimeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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You mind just facing that way? I'll be checking. A young mom ends up in handcuffs after sheriff's deputies find her children living in squalor. I've been out here before. In the autumn wood. If she's here, tell me. If she ain't, you I go over the shocking details of what deputies say they found and the charges that Autumn Witt faced and what happened to her case. Welcome to Crime Fix. I'm Ann Jeanette Levy. Autumn Witt is the mother of two children out of Florida. She was charged with child neglect back in May after deputies in Indian River County said they found the children living in terrible conditions.

But then suddenly, prosecutors with the state attorney's office in Florida decided against pursuing the charges. That office in Florida decided against pursuing the charges. That happened in late June. This all started back in May when an investigator with DCF called for the sheriff's office asking for assistance with a house visit. This is Ken Dinaucan, I can help you. Hi, this is Chana with DCF.

Okay. I need to request a standby. Is this going to be child or adult? Pardon? Child or adult? Child. Is there going to be a removal? No. I don't know. Okay. And 24 hour or immediate? Okay. And 24 hour or immediate? 24. Okay. All right. I have a deputy on the way. They're going to come speak with you. Thank you. Bye. Now originally that DCF investigator and Indian River County deputies arrived at the residence to investigate allegations that the parents of the children, Witt was of course one of them, were smoking marijuana in front of the children and blowing it in their faces.

An affidavit states, the parents smoke from a bong and blow the marijuana smoke close to the children's faces. The house is closed up when the parents are smoking marijuana. The children cough from the marijuana smoke. The paramour chokes, hits, and pushes the mother to the ground while the children

are present. The mother is currently pregnant. The paramour locks the mother in the bedroom or blocks the door to prevent her from leaving. The parents got into an argument yesterday and the paramour raised his voice. It's unknown if the argument became physical. Now this affidavit goes on to claim that the children were being spanked with spatulas and had bruises. I'll have more on that claim very shortly. Deputies were not prepared for what they found inside the home. I don't remember your Miss Witch, but... So you have a spot where we can go in where it's like a little bit less cold and hot. Can we go inside? Yeah.

It's a little more clear now because it is time to leave the building. Hi! And the dog is a little on her period so I haven't mopped before yet. Why aren't you in school? She's only, she's not four yet. She's only three. Now the video actually cuts off when the deputies walk inside the house. Authorities have redacted those portions to maintain privacy but the audio remains and we catch a little bit of the back and forth between the mother and the deputies.

I think that you guys, your house looks a little bit less kept like it's more of a pet than it was last time. I haven't been here as much. I just got back from, she was in the hospital and we were down in Miami. So we were staying with my mom for a couple days and that's where this stuff came from. She's moving. I just went through all this stuff and I'm trying to get rid of some stuff and put the rest in storage. My roommate just paid storage a couple days ago so we're gonna be putting the stuff in storage. Did Megan, uh, she stay with that guy, Carla? Ian? No. So she has another case to deal with. But Ian's not here?

No. Sorry, I had to question. I'm sorry. The only other male in the house. And John owns the house now. Is he home now, Leo? I'm sorry? Is it Leo you said? Vito. Vito. Is he home now?

No, he's at work right now. Do you have any idea why we're here today? No. You don't seem that surprised that we're here. She's had a lot of involvement in the last few. Okay. Have you ever been out for these children before? I'm sorry?

Has DCF ever been involved with these children before? Unfortunately, yes. My brother called on me in August trying to spread lies, trying to say that I was on drug-free things. Have you had contact with your brother since? No. So our content really shows you how important personal safety is and that's especially, when it comes to protecting your privacy online. You would be shocked at how much of your personal information is out there, like your address and phone number. Ever wonder why you get so many spam calls and emails?

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with my information and here's the kicker. These data brokers have to remove you from their database if you ask them to. Now you're probably thinking, Anjanette, who in the heck has time to contact a data broker? Well, that again is where Incogni comes in. They contact those companies for you

to get your online safety back. You don't have to do a thing, and then they alert you after the request has been completed. After signing up, I get virtually no spam now, so I highly recommend giving Incogni a try. Right now, anyone who uses the code CRIMEPHIX at incogni.com slash crime fix gets 60% off. That's code CRIMEPHIX at incogni.com slash crime fix for 60% off an annual Incogni plan. So Whit had told deputies that a family member had actually called children's services on her in the past, and she claimed that that family member was lying about her.

As authorities walk deeper into the home, the deputy takes note of how the children are affected by the state of things inside, specifically the three-year-old. The deputy wrote, Fingernails were black underneath, and there were what appeared to be several bug bites on her arms, along with scratches that the girl stated were from the cat. Witt advised me the bites were from mosquitoes and that she scratches and irritates. Witt stated that the bites were present when she was brought to the ER and nothing was spoken about them. I observed the child playing on the floor with dead bugs and feces

while inside the residence. Now back to that conversation in the home. You might have to do some inspection to see if you got rotas. No. Just the rotas that we're working on. Well, I mean, partially it's living choices that you're making about your about your housekeeping. You can't get rid of a bug problem if your house is unkempt. Yeah, don't leave a piggy mess.

Yeah, I mean, you're welcome to live however you want, but when there's small children involved? Yeah. It's kind of, they have no choice. Yeah, they can't, they can't, uh, things like this, you know what I mean? It's not been cleaned out long enough. And that's partially where the odor is coming from. I'm going to allow for you guys an opportunity to tidy up. Yeah, because those pads are no longer here so it's just going to be a mess. So I mean I'm gonna expect that though. Before I come back I'm gonna give you time to just do some of the cleaning because the harm is not presentable enough I don't think. You know for your sake too. So you have two children here in the

house? Yes and I'm pregnant. I will! Now, the conditions of the house were deplorable. According to the report, deputies could smell urine, ammonia, and feces and they saw a litter box overflowing with feces causing flies and roaches to scurry around the house. Witt told deputies she had recently been admitted to the hospital a week earlier and that was part of the reason her home was amassed. The police report states, Upon arrival, I observed the exterior of the residence to be in poor condition.

There was a large pile of garbage bags piled up in the front yard directly in front of the front porch. I was immediately struck by the aroma of garbage as I exited my patrol vehicle. I observed a swarm of flies surrounding the garbage and the front porch area of the house, which was littered with empty soda and alcohol containers. Now deputies

said they found an utter disregard for the children's welfare but Witt tried to explain. I'm just staying away from my mom. Mom, stay on the porch. So I can play ball. So I can play ball. So I can play ball. And I'm sorry, guys. And I'm trying to fix it with so much work and everything, but it keeps happening and I don't know what to do and I'm so sorry. But you're getting yourself all worked up. Okay. There's also some concerns that are related to your new partner. Tell me what your relationship with him is like.

It's perfectly fine. Does he put hands on you? No, never. Never. Okay. Is there anybody else in the house putting hands on you? No. Another male?

No. Okay. I just have to touch your face with you because last time I was here the other one was doing a little bit. I mean your girls have, you know, don't know about your family. I understand that. I've known this man for over 10 years. We're like high school sweethearts. How long has Vito been staying here? He's only been staying here since the end of February. Now as you heard, Witt denied that there was any physical abuse with her current boyfriend. Deputies wrote, Witt denied the other allegations of drug use inside the home and physical abuse with her current boyfriend. I did not see any evidence of drug use, nor did I see any signs of physical harm to Witt or the children. Witt did voluntarily submit to a drug screen which was negative for all narcotics. Can I have help please? I said I want help! I want help please! Is there anybody locking you guys in the room?

I want help to get the book out so I can't open this door. Sometimes I lock myself in the room but that's when we're taking a nap. And that's because I don't lock anybody, you know, locking in on the book. I feel good when everybody's down. Luca takes a nap, I'll take a nap. It doesn't smell like marijuana, but it smells like urine. It smells like you have like 20 cats in there. But no, I'm telling you,

there's a difference between the medication and stuff. And the Uber uses his medication, so his urine smells of terrible ammonia. So earlier, the DCF workers had said they received a complaint about drug use and the children being spanked with spatulas. It sounds like maybe that wasn't true. The Children's Services investigator is concerned when she notices bites on Witt's daughter. I kind of mentioned those earlier. You're gonna go to school next year though right? when she notices bites on Witt's daughter. I kind of mentioned those earlier. I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do this. I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do this.

I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do this. I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do this. I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do this. I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do this. I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do this. I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do this. I was like that as a child and they didn't do anything about it. So I was just bored and I was acting out in class because I was bored. I knew everything. I aced every task.

So I just want to make sure that I'm not going to do that. You're covered in bug bites. Are those what kind of bugs? Mosquitoes. Mosquitoes. Scratch them. You need a bug bite and then it's a may bug. No I don't.

That's thinking make-up boobies go away. That's right. That's pretty smart. You want to step in and I'm going to help you out here with me, okay? I'm going to close the door to have privacy. You trust that I'm going to take you to the bathroom? Okay, you're going to just talk to me for a minute, okay kiddo? Okay. So look at me. You remember me? Mm-hmm. What's your name? My name is Shana. What's your name?

The caseworker talks to the little girl and later tells Autumn Witt how unsanitary the home is. Then she and the deputy discuss how bad the conditions are inside that home. The roaches were my seller. I was like, I can't. They're running on the ground. Pieces and other things. It's technically environmental hazard. Not arrestable, but close. I mean, it's a crime in this state, is it not?

Is it high enough? It is. With biohazards presenting the potential for serious health risks, DCF initiates a safety plan for the children, which allows them to immediately remove them from the home until the conditions improve. Witt, along with her three-year-old and one-year-old child, were transported to the local Department

of Children and Families facility. I need DCF. I only have one car seat. Okay, come go ahead and put the little one in. You know how to do it, right? Until the home was brought up to DCF standards, the children would remain in the care of DCF. A week later, Indian County deputies returned with a children would remain in the care of DCF. A week later, Indian County deputies returned with a warrant to check on the status of the residents, only to find a much bigger mess. Hello. Hello ma'am, I'm looking for Miss Autumn Witt. That's you? Okay, I just had a

couple of questions about... Hello sweetie. We just had a few questions about DCF follow-up. Yeah, could you step out here for a minute with us are the kids in there by themselves okay how many kids are in there okay okay sweetie you mind if I talk to your mom real quick My dad will my dad's that way you might You might Yeah, you might close Thank you, ma'am. Just had a couple of questions. I just had to make sure you have any weapons on you Yeah, if you don't mind just facing that way. Yeah What's happening? We have two warrants for your arrest. Child neglect.

Two counts. $50,000 bond. Hey stop! Stop. What are you doing? Here, come here. Come out here man. Can I hand these to him please?

Give me your hand. Hey stop! Stop! What are you doing? Here, come here. Come out here man. Can I hand these to him please? Give me a minute. I'll hand it to him. We just had one. We just had a f***ing mom really quick. There's the f***ing fat. Can you go get some rest? The deputy hits Witt's father with the news.

Please, please. What's going on? He's under arrest. Okay. She has two warrant. 1205, one detained. Ma'am, do you have anything else besides this? Are you able to take care of her? Yeah, I can take care of her.

I'm going to call her mom. Call my mom. You want to leave all this, ma'am? Yes, please. Can you please send that to him? My uncle's death date, 11th. Okay. I'm going to call her mom.

Okay. I'm going to call her mom. Okay. I'm going to call her mom. Okay. I'm going to call her mom. Okay. I I'm gonna call her mom. You wanna leave all this, ma'am? Yes, please can you please send that to him? Call my uncle's death date, 11-23-20. 11-23-20?

Yes. Okay. My mom Donna Pansarella, you can call my sister, my hermeneur at least, text her. That's a good speech. I'll send her your sister, but my mom will call you later. Okay, I'll call Vito and I'll call your mom later. Like what's the 10 11 2320? I think it's a 50,000. OK.

Watch that. Thank you, guys. Deputies arrest the pregnant mother for making no efforts to remedy the living conditions, charging her with two counts of child neglect without great bodily harm. You know if we got a female for a search? Oh, we can pat her down. Give me a pair of hands, just face it. Because we both have our cameras on, there's no real need for a female. Okay. Just make you aware so once you get into the car and go to the jail, if you have anything

in your bra, stuff inside of you or anything like that, it is an additional charge for introduction to the crash van. We just gotta explain that to everybody. We're good to go. Whit pleaded not guilty to the charges, as I mentioned earlier. The state attorney reviewing the case filed a no-bill, meaning the case was being dropped, so it's been closed. Why this happened isn't exactly clear. Did the state attorney find a reason to not move forward with the charges?

Was this simply viewed as a situation that should be handled by children's services and not the courts? I reached out to both the public defender's office for an answer and to the state attorney's office at the time of this recording. I had not received a response from either side. And that's it for this episode of Crime Fix. I'm Anjaneet Levy. Thanks so much for being with me. I'll see you back here next time.