Cobb mother Shannon Byers arrested after sewage, roaches discovered in home

A Cobb County mother is accused of forcing her children to live in filth.

Officers were called to the Smya home to assist in the eviction of Shannon Byers. Once they arrived, they said they were alarmed at the conditions inside.  

"The toilets were full, raw sewage. Very deplorable conditions. Very disturbing to law enforcement as well as the landlord who was there," said Cobb County Police Sgt. Dana Pierce.

Additionally, police said the home was infested with roaches, old food, garbage and mold.

Pierce said that Byers' three children were sent to the hospital for treatment. He said they were found to have some physical issues including dehydration. Pierce said that the air conditioning in the home was not on. At the time, the metro Atlanta area was experiencing record high temperatures.

"It was 104 degrees that day outside, so we can only imagine inside what the temperature was there," said Pierce. "The officer said that when he entered the home that it was even hotter inside."

Investigators said that the children were taken into protective custody after being released from the hospital.

Byers was arrested and charged with three counts of contributing to the deprivation of a minor. She has since bonded out of jail and awaits her next court appearance.