Jesus. >> I'm trying my best to keep this my kids and keep get this place cleaned up. I just talked to property manager. She doesn't laugh. >> No. >> You're only going to jail. >> What's a war investigation? [music] What's happening? >> Monday, July 18th, 2022. Mesa, Arizona. For weeks, neighbors had seen three little girls just ages 2, five, and six knocking on doors in search of food and water. That behavior repeated over and over would reveal a level of deprivation so extreme it could no longer be ignored. Finally, someone took that step that many had delayed and called the police. What officers would find inside the home went well beyond any suspicion. Three children forced to survive an absolute alongside parents incapable of meeting even their most basic needs. I'm Tyler and this is your daily dose of crime. We see you watching, but only about 11% of you are subscribed to the channel. So, if you enjoy this video, make sure to hit subscribe and ring that bell so that we can reach more people and you can keep getting your daily dose of crime. As always, thanks for being here. Yeah. Jesus. >> Hi. >> Hello, ma'am. Just coming out and talking to us tonight. Um, >> so based on what we saw, we had to do a little bit further investigation. We got to ask some more questions. >> Um, can we just go over to our car real quick and >> just ask more questions? >> I'm trying my best to keep this >> my kids and keep get this place cleaned up. I just talked to the property manager. She just left. >> I know. I talked to her, too. Do you mind just stepping over my vehicle so we can talk? >> You want to stay here? When officers arrived at the residence on South Stapley Drive, the first to open the door was 44year-old Katrina Anise Johnson, the children's biological mother. Upon first glance, it looked as though it were a routine procedure, but officers already carried background information. reports of the girls begging for food in the neighborhood and school records showing chronic absenteeism. That's why as soon as she stepped outside, she was placed in handcuffs. Her arrest was not an isolated act. Behind it stood a history of fraud convictions, mental health evaluations, and a pattern of addiction she later admitted to. Forensic psychology interprets that trajectory as the result of a cycle of impulsivity, avoidance of responsibility, and compulsive consumption, which explains why even the financial help she received to feed her daughters was diverted to her addiction. [laughter] >> No, her wife. >> You have a warrant. Whose car is this? That's hard. Can I get those shoes from my husband? We'll talk. Can you my husband, please? Please. Can you please get Brandon, please? Is he being drafted, too? >> Hold on. >> Please tell me. Please. >> We have to do more investigation. He's not He's not going to go in jail right now. >> Okay. >> You're only going to jail cuz you have a warrant. >> So, what's with the war investigation? What does that mean? >> Okay. We have to ask more questions. We have some detectives that are going to talk to you. >> You want You want shoes? You want me to get them for you? >> Okay. >> No shoe right now. >> We're going to go ahead go and call him out. He wants She wants his shoes. Please. What did [laughter] he have? What's going on? Please, please tell me. Please. >> Is he right there? >> Further. >> What? Come on. >> So, she's going for the warrant today. Do you have any weapons right here? >> No, I don't. Am I just fil does she have any shoes or anything outside? >> Yeah. Can I get her a jacket and stuff? >> It's freaking cold. >> What am I? >> No way. >> We're just going to be entertained right now. Okay. >> Why? >> What are you doing? >> What the is going on? [screaming] >> Guys, explain what's going on. >> Don't I know? >> Yeah. Hold on. [screaming] What? Baby, baby, no. Don't touch my daughter. Please. >> We're not going to. >> Don't run. >> I need to know what's going on with my kids. >> No. Please don't run with my I'm being cooperative. I'm being cooperative. >> I understand. You can step out. >> Please. Thank you. Please. >> Okay. Do you have anything in your pocket? >> No. What's going on with me? What's going on with freaking >> Can you please talk to me? >> Yeah. Just >> please talk to me. Just a second. >> Please talk to me. >> So, we're concerned >> with the safety of the children. >> I know, but I'm understand. I understand going on. I told you. I need you to talk to the land lady. >> Hold on. Okay, relax. Let us Let us Let us Let us work figure it out. Okay. >> I understand. Your kids are going to be fine. >> I don't want to go. >> We're going to We're going to take care of you. >> I don't want to go to DCS. Please. >> I understand. >> I promise them. Please. >> I know. I'm fine. I'm sorry. I'm going to shut the door. I'm nervous. I'm scared. Please talk to me. Please. >> Hold on a second. Please. >> Hold on a second. I understand. >> I understand. >> Living with her was Brandon Edwards in his early 30s, who, though not the biological father, had taken on the role of a father figure. With no serious criminal record, his responsibility would be measured in omissions. He allowed the home to go weeks without running water, watched as the girls were withdrawn from school, and offered no sign of legitimate homeschooling. He even rejected his own mother's proposal to care for the children in safer conditions. Experts agreed that this kind of passivity reflects a pattern of avoidance and emotional dependence where the inability to confront problems turns into silent complicity. His arrest was not a random event but the culmination of months of allowing to become normalized within the household. >> I over there and I understand how you feel right now. I really do. I have to go to jail right now or I have to stay here and wait. >> We're just being detective. >> Did her a jacket? Like I'm not trying to be hostile. My my daughters are right there. >> So we'll we'll get everything. She's not going yet. So when everything gets >> when everything gets, you know, figured out, we'll allow you to grab whatever she needs and all that stuff. So we're just going to have a seat in my car real quick. >> And can I just stay in here with my daughters? cuz they're scared. They're really [ __ ] scared. >> I understand. >> I don't think you do. >> I No, I do. >> You guys talk like you understand, but you don't. My daughter's crying right here. I can't >> My daughter's freaking freaked out cuz they've been taken by CPS before and it took us a year to get them back. >> Okay. Well, >> my daughters are freaked the out. And then you guys are locking them in the house right now. That's that. How does that look to them? >> We're not locking them in the house. We're allowing them to go back. >> They're holding the door shut and my daughters are inside. How do you think they're thinking as kids? >> They can see you right now. Oh, you think they're that tall? >> They're standing on the bed. >> She was just watching through the window. >> So, let's just go have a seat in my car. >> That's not fair. I I'm not here to be, you know, fair. I'm here to do my job. Okay. >> You don't mind handing over your phone to me real quick, sir. >> Can I call my mother at least have her come down here and get my kids? >> We'll get to phone calls. Okay. >> I just want to have my mom come get the kids so they're not freaking out. Can I just have that from you guys? We're not very I'll even let you call. >> You're not even going anywhere yet. >> I know, but I want my mom to come pick up my daughter. >> We can't right now. >> I'm the guy. >> Charles out. Can I pull Can you pull up to the fence and let me have the window open? >> You got to You got to go in. You got to get in the car first. I'm like 49 >> and we got You can't have your phone back there. >> I don't understand why I have >> because you both have to be >> 8:35. >> Okay. >> What did I do wrong? >> It's pending an investigation. >> A warrant that doesn't count here. >> Okay. It's pending. It's impending a child investigation. You're being detained. Okay. That's that's why. >> Yeah. >> Is he biological dad or children? Okay. Yes, sir. >> He is. >> As both adults were secured, officers turned their concern to the immediate future of the children. It was not the first time the family had fallen under the oversight of child protection services. A year earlier, the girls had already been removed from the home temporarily. That precedent made it clear that it was not a sudden problem, but a progressive deterioration the system had failed to stop. Such recurrence reveals a breakdown in parental capacity where neither warnings nor prior supervision succeeded in changing their behavior. For prosecutors, the girl's removal from school and the lack of basic utilities at home confirmed that this was sustained child with very real risks to the children's lives. So, right now, I'll keep them detained in my vehicle until we can figure it till you figure out what we're going to do with these kids. All right, sir. Bye. So, I told you guys your parents aren't going anywhere, right? Right. They're still right there. We're just talking to them in the vehicles. Okay. Have you guys eaten today? Are you hungry? >> We already ate. >> You ate today? >> We already ate. How how far how long ago? >> Um just right just right now. Before you guys came >> before we got here, what did you guys eat? >> Um we had um >> we had some meat and some egg and stuff like that. >> Some meat and some what? >> Um eggs and all that and bacon and all that. >> That sounds really good. >> Did you eat it here? >> Yeah, we ate it here. >> Did you all eat? >> Mhm. >> Yeah, >> we all ate. Is anyone still hungry? >> No. Are you guys thirsty? >> No. >> I have some water if you guys want some water. Are you guys thirsty? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Okay. My car in the middle there's a gallon of water. Go get it, please. >> Water. >> Yep. Right in the middle. Can you guys have like juice? >> Huh? >> Can you guys have like juice? Like Gatorade? >> Yeah. >> You allowed to? Yeah. >> Okay. I'm going to get you guys some Gatorade. Okay. because it's kind of hot out here. And you sure you're not hungry? >> I'm not hungry. >> You're not hungry? >> No. >> With the parents in custody, officers spoke directly to the children to confirm whether they had eaten or had anything to drink. What looked like routine questions were in fact a way of assessing accumulated harm. Subsequent medical examinations would reveal signs of malnutrition, dehydration, and possible developmental delays. evidence that the lack of care was not a one-time failure, but a process that had stretched over months. From a psychological perspective, their behavior of approaching neighbors for help showed an unusual survival instinct for children of their age. Forced to take on responsibilities far beyond their developmental stage, a burden that leaves lasting emotional scars. Okay, honey. Give him a hug really fast. Okay. >> Yeah, we'll let him come over here. >> We have We can have one of our detectives come back in your necklace. >> I don't have it in the room. >> I know. They They're They're locking down their house. I can't even go home. >> What? >> How about you? >> I can't even go home. >> Sir, do you want to come give your daughter? >> You want to help me have shoes? >> Would you like to give your kids another hug? They want a hug from you again. >> Yeah, please. >> My daughter knows where my necklace is. It's my grandmother's earn. >> Can she go? >> I know where she >> I know where it is. >> Can she grab my necklace with >> No, because last time they tried to take >> We're just going to go on a trip. Okay. >> What are you saying? >> Okay. He just wants it for himself. >> We understand. Let's put him in the car. All right, we're going to go and head [laughter] in from the back of my car again. Okay, ma'am. Can I just tell him calm when I get out? >> I'll let him know for you. Okay. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> I do want to explain to you that holiday. is going to determine whether ongoing >> Adam 123. >> Ma'am, my 101 in custody is 52 with me. So, can we go ahead and confirm on that and see if they'll set up with me? >> My wife does. >> Oh, that number you gave me is not >> Oh, can I get my grand my mom's number, too? Cuz I have no contacts. They won't let she wants to take the phone with her so she has no way to call. >> Okay. >> Any number. She knows it by heart. Like she don't have to look. >> I I'll go ask her. All right. What number do we need? >> Uh my mom's number. >> Your mom's number >> and then my number. >> And then your number. Okay. >> All right. Katrina. Um do you know his mom's number? >> Um try to think. We set up a meet. Uh, Burger King, Main Ellsworth. All right. >> All right. You don't you don't remember his number, though. It's not too important. Your mom's number was mainly the important one. Okay. >> As officers asked for phone numbers to coordinate with child protection services, another critical detail emerged. Johnson and Edwards had previously rejected family intervention. Edward's mother had offered to take the girls into her care, but the couple refused. While at the same time, investigators uncovered that Johnson had diverted nearly $3,000 of financial aid from her own mother in order to buy, proving that resources existed, but were never used for the children. Specialists interpret that rejection of help as a mechanism of denial and isolation typical of couples caught in cycles of codependency and addiction, leaving their children in extreme vulnerability. >> All right, so mom's phone number is going to be >> that's the grandmother's son. Yeah, she didn't she doesn't remember what the phone number. Yeah. >> Okay. All right. >> I figured the more important one was grandma's. >> Grandma. Hopefully she answers. So >> hopefully >> All right. Thank you. >> Yeah. Thank you, ma'am. >> What's up? >> You have any more water? >> I don't. No, I I gave my bottles to the girls. >> Yeah, I got it. The the DCS workers were the ones who needed it, so I g I gave it to them. >> Yeah, I don't have my mom. >> Oh, here. I got it then. Just your mom's number. >> Yeah, here. you. I'll just rip the page off for you. All right. Let me write a little bit better than my chicken scratch. All right. >> Okay. >> I love you girls. I'll see you soon. All right. Can Hey, can you make sure that they stay together? >> We're going to do everything we can. I promise. Well, we're going to put them down. There you go. Throw a little bit cleaner instead of my chicken scratch for you. All right. All right, I'm going to go see if Mason confirmed on that then. >> Hi. Hi. >> Nice of you guys to help us out cuz I know we were slammed and this is >> that's how we've been out >> and but this has been like the kind of way of small punishment for a child case that we're working with this. So, but she's uh she's nice and calm. We just been chit cchatting. So, that way she's nice and uh nice and relaxed. So, she's not going to be any issues for you. And hopefully we we talked about a good good game plan to go from here. Right. >> All right. So, >> thank you. >> I'm going to go ahead and take these off you. Okay. And then I'll have my partner here put his on for you. >> All right. Just cuz all procedural stuff, right? >> Absolutely. >> But get that warrant taken care of. Okay. >> Yes. and then do what we talked about. All right. Hey, listen. >> I almost feel like I don't want to. >> It's it's it's stupid. All right. But we got to take care of it. And then once we take care of it, we can worry about the more important things. All right. Like your children. >> Okay. >> Keep you in front. Sounds like you've been pretty cooperative. >> Yeah. I need I need to put them on behind me. >> Thank you. They kind of have a little bit back there. And then just remember that little uh analogy I shared with you about that tree. Okay, >> I'm going to stick with me now. >> All right. It's a nice little positive thing that especially us Midwesterners like to share with each other. I think we're able to relate better with one another when we do that. >> Stand behind the right wheel. I'm just going to give you a quick check. I'm sure they already did. >> And then she's just got her cell phone with her. And then that's the only thing. >> So you need a bag. >> Okay. The July 18th, 2022 operation ended with Katrina Johnson and Brandon Edwards under arrest and three minors placed in state custody. Both would be charged with three counts of child, one for each daughter under Arizona law, which penalizes both actions and omissions when a child is exposed to risks to their health or safety. Johnson with prior convictions and a documented history of use faced more harsh penalties as a repeat offender. Edwards, despite a clean record, was equally implicated for his passivity and refusal of family support. The girls remain under protective custody while the court considers terminating parental rights and pursuing a criminal process which could result in prison time for both parents. Beyond the charges, the case exposed failures in both the school system and child protection services, which had failed to catch prolonged absences and utility shut offs in a household with minors. The episode would leave behind a profound psychological impact, where a child's basic trust in adults is shattered and recovery will depend on the therapeutic care they receive. The open question remains unavoidable. How many warning signs can a community ignore before itself is recognized as a form of violence?