Joshua Billing, 45, and Nicole Shreve, 38, were arrested on Father’s Day for child endangerment.
The Redding Police Department received a report just before 6 a.m on Sunday that a 2-year-old boy was “running up and down” Churn Creek Road “wearing only a diaper and holding a bag of candy.” One of the witnesses held on to the toddler until the police arrived.
Officers said the boy was shivering from the cold but had no injuries.
Authorities discovered that the toddler had wandered a quarter-mile from his home on Bond Street in Redding, and his parents were unaware he was missing.
“Billing and Shreve were completely unaware that their two-year-old toddler was missing from the residence. The investigation revealed several prior reports within the past year of the same unattended toddler being found wandering away from his residence under similar circumstances,” RPD wrote.
Officers reported that the father, mother, and four children were living in distressing conditions.
According to the police, drug paraphernalia and firearms ammunition were found inside the home.
“Officers found absolutely deplorable living conditions inside the residence. The floors and furniture were dirty and covered in food, and the home appeared to be infested with insects,” RPD wrote.
It was discovered that a 9-year-old child was sleeping on a couch in the living room while their 15-year-old brother and 12-year-old sister slept over at two other residences.
All four children were placed into temporary protective custody with the Children’s Services Branch of Shasta County Health and Human Services.
Billing and Shrevee were booked into the Shasta County Jail on felony child endangerment charges.
