Des Moines Mother Arrested For Child Endangerment Has Been Released From Jail

DES MOINES, IA — A mother of three charged with child endangerment for leaving her children, ages 4 and younger, at home alone has been released from jail. Destinee Miller, 25, was arrested Monday after police found her children unattended and one covered in feces.

Police went to Miller's home in the 100 block of Fulton Drive on the city's south side after receiving a report that young children were playing outdoors without supervision. KCCI-TV reported that police found a 4-year-old child attempting to care for his siblings, ages 1 and 2, and that the older boy told police he took them outside after he attempted to make breakfast but got scared when the oven began making noise.

Police entered the home and found the oven on, KCCI reported, and they reported seeing spoiled food and dirty dishes, dog feces and urine, and human waste.

One of the children reportedly was naked and covered in feces while another was wearing only a soiled diaper.

(For more local news, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Des Moines Patch, or click here to find your local Iowa Patch. Also, find us on Facebook and, if you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

Police said Miller returned while they were at the home and indicated she had left to take a sick dog to a vet to be euthanized because it had parvovirus.

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa was called to check on the welfare of four other dogs in the home that also reportedly looked sick. KCCI said police indicated the dogs were impounded and all tested positive for parvovirus.

Police also called the Department of Human Services due to the living conditions and the children were removed from the home Monday afternoon.

Bond for Miller had been set at $2,000 for each of the three counts of child endangerment.

Destinee Miller, Polk County Jail booking photo