Glendale Parents Charged After Children Found In Squalor

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the West Valley, Glendale police arrested two parents last week after discovering their young children living in what authorities described as "deplorable conditions" inside their apartment. The incident, which unfolded on January 29, 2026, has raised urgent questions about child welfare, parental responsibility, and the systems meant to protect vulnerable minors.

According to the Glendale Police Department, the ordeal began when a concerned citizen called authorities around 1:38 p.m. after spotting a naked child through a window at an apartment near Bethany Home Road and 67th Avenue. The caller, familiar with the area, was alarmed by the sight, having never seen a child at the residence before. This prompted officers to conduct a welfare check, a decision that would soon uncover a disturbing scene inside the home.

Upon arrival, officers spoke with 36-year-old Sara Jessica Jackson, who answered the door. Inside, they found two boys, aged 4 and 6, both naked and clearly in distress. The details, as later outlined in court documents and recounted by multiple outlets including Fox 10 Phoenix, paint a grim picture. "Patrol officers observed what they believed to be dried feces in the 6-year-old's hair," read a portion of the court documents. Flies swarmed both inside and outside the apartment, and there was evidence of a severe insect infestation. Feces contaminated not only the floors but the walls, ceilings, and even the bedding, making the environment hazardous and unsanitary.

Glendale PD spokesperson Jose Santiago did not mince words during a press conference. "These children were living in deplorable conditions, … basically they were treated like animals," he said, adding, "In many cases, I will tell you, people treat their animals way better than these children were treated." The apartment was described as having exposed wiring, large piles of personal belongings stacked five to six feet high—consistent with a hoarding situation—and a bucket of contaminated water. Movement inside the apartment was restricted by the clutter, and the air was thick with the stench of urine and feces.

Perhaps even more alarming was the discovery of multiple firearms within the home. According to police, there were two handguns and an AK47 in the apartment. Officers found a 9mm handgun under the pillow on the bed where the children were playing; the magazine was loaded, though the chamber was empty. The proximity of firearms to the children only heightened concerns for their safety and well-being.

Medical and developmental neglect was also evident. Glendale Fire crews were called to evaluate the boys, who were then transported to a hospital for further assessment. Both children showed signs of significant developmental delays. As Glendale PD's Sgt. Bryan Hoskin explained, "One child was non-verbal and the other was minimally verbal." The children had never attended school or received any formal education, and, shockingly, had not seen a doctor since birth. Investigators noted that the four-year-old was non-verbal, while the six-year-old could not speak in complete sentences.

During interviews with police, Sara Jackson acknowledged the dire state of the apartment. She admitted there was feces on the walls and floors, explaining that the boys were not potty-trained and did not like using the porta potty that had been placed in the bedroom. She said they put a gate on the bedroom door because her older son "started pooping on the floor, and he likes to throw his feces." When asked why she did not clean up the human waste, Sara responded, "I'm a bad mom. Sometimes I'm overwhelmed, and I don't have motivation." She also stated that her husband, 41-year-old Arthur James Jackson Jr., "doesn't say anything about the conditions of the home or the children."

Arthur Jackson, who works six days a week for up to nine hours a day, told police he "works a lot and doesn't have time to scrub the apartment," acknowledging the squalor. He said the conditions began around Christmas 2025. Both parents admitted that the children were locked in their bedroom, with Sara asserting that the boys were confined 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Child safety gates and other barriers were used to cage the children in, denying them access to a bathroom and forcing them to live in their own waste.

When officers arrived, they noted that neither parent showed any signs of remorse or shock. "They basically acted as if this was just a normal activity," Santiago said. Despite the appalling conditions, the children were found to have no major immediate health concerns after their hospital evaluation. They have since been placed in the custody of the Department of Child Safety, and a family pet was also removed from the home for its own welfare.

The legal consequences for the parents were swift. Both Arthur and Sara Jackson were arrested and charged with two counts of child abuse each. A judge set their bond at $25,000 apiece, and as of February 2, 2026, they remain in custody. Their preliminary hearing is scheduled for February 9, 2026.

The case has reignited debate over the effectiveness of community vigilance and the capacity of social services to identify and intervene in cases of severe neglect before they reach such extremes. While the anonymous tipster’s call was crucial in rescuing the children, many are left wondering how long the boys had suffered unseen and what, if any, warning signs might have been missed by neighbors or authorities in the months leading up to the discovery.

As the investigation continues, the Jackson case stands as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by children in isolated and neglected households. It also underscores the importance of community involvement and the need for robust systems to ensure that every child grows up in a safe, clean, and nurturing environment. The story is far from over, with the upcoming court proceedings likely to reveal more about how this tragedy unfolded—and perhaps, what can be done to prevent similar cases in the future.

For now, the two boys are in safer hands, and the community is left grappling with the reality of what was happening behind closed doors in their own neighborhood.