A 65-year-old Bemidji woman faces three criminal charges after allegedly assaulting a child and keeping her in a home with extremely unsanitary conditions.
Nell Christine Rearick was charged Wednesday in Beltrami County District Court with child endangerment, contributing to the need for child protection services, and domestic assault. The charges stem from a December 9 incident at her home on 1st Street East.
According to the criminal complaint, Beltrami County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a domestic assault report. When a deputy arrived, Rearick was crying and said, “I’m sorry; I’ve never got this mad and didn’t mean to do it.”
Assault allegations
Rearick told deputies the child had a therapy appointment but didn’t want to go. When the child talked back, Rearick said she slapped the girl across the face, according to the complaint.
The girl kicked toward Rearick, who then grabbed her by the back of her hair and threw her to the kitchen floor, the complaint states.
The child told deputies the assault caused pain and fear, especially when her hair was pulled and she was thrown to the ground. She said she had lived in the home for several years.
Unsanitary living conditions
Inside the home, the deputy reported severe unsanitary conditions. The complaint describes what he saw:
<ul> <li>A fresh pile of feces by the front door</li> <li>An overwhelming odor of urine and feces that burned his sinuses</li> <li>Animal feces and several cats running around the child’s room</li> <li>Urine stains on the floors that caused burning sinuses and watery eyes</li> <li>Large patches of black mold on the ceiling and walls</li> <li>Stains on the child’s bed that appeared to come from bed bugs or mold</li> <li>A mound of cat feces soaked in urine in another room</li> </ul>
The deputy noted his throat and lungs began to burn after breathing the air for about 15 minutes, even though he isn’t allergic to cats or sensitive to strong odors.
Defendant’s statements
After her arrest and Miranda warning, Rearick admitted the house conditions were getting worse and said she expected law enforcement to intervene eventually. She told deputies she isn’t disabled and can clean the home but needs help from the girl. Rearick said she is retired and not employed.
Social services placed the child on a 72-hour hold following the incident.
Rearick faces a maximum penalty of 364 days in jail or a $3,000 fine for each gross misdemeanor charge and up to 90 days in jail or a $1,000 fine for the misdemeanor domestic assault charge.
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