Washington Parents Arrested After Disabled 5-Year-Old Found Malnourished in Trash-Filled SUV With Siblings and Dogs, Police Say

WASHINGTON — Three adults are in custody after Vancouver police discovered five children and three dogs living inside a trash-packed SUV, where officers say there were drugs, filth, and clear signs of long-term neglect — including a missing feeding tube for a disabled 5-year-old child.

The Vancouver Police Department announced charges against Natalie Gebron, 46, Zachariah Edwards, 40, and Corleone Lewis, all of whom now face counts ranging from child endangerment to drug possession and animal cruelty.

Authorities say the SUV was so cluttered with belongings, garbage, and narcotics that it was nearly impossible for officers to move inside.

Caller Reported Child “Naked and Shivering” Before Police Found Atrocious Living Conditions

Police responded after a concerned citizen reported seeing multiple children inside the vehicle at a local Vancouver car wash, including one who appeared to be “naked and shivering” with visible bones showing through their skin.

According to a search warrant obtained by local outlet KATU, the conditions inside the SUV were described as “atrocious.” The children — ages 13, 11, 10, 8, and 5 — were reportedly only partially clothed and living amid extensive trash and drug paraphernalia.

Authorities say all five children tested positive for fentanyl, and two also tested positive for methamphetamine.

“The kids had very little food available and showed clear signs of neglect,” Vancouver police wrote in a statement.

Gebron, the mother of all five children, reportedly admitted to officers that the youngest child — who is partially blind, deaf, and diagnosed with cerebral palsy — had been without their medically required feeding tube for over a year.

Instead, she said they had been feeding the child with a bottle despite profound medical needs.

Drugs Found in SUV as Officers Detail Severe Neglect

Investigators say one of the suspects had methamphetamine on them during the arrest, while another acknowledged that fentanyl was being kept inside the SUV.

Police seized the vehicle as evidence, describing it as dangerously unsanitary and unsafe for children.

The SUV had become the family’s full-time living space, officers said, with piles of trash, clothing, food wrappers, and drug equipment filling nearly every area of the vehicle.

Dogs Also Suffered: One Put Down for Untreated Tumor

The three dogs found in the vehicle also showed signs of severe mistreatment.

Police said:

• Two dogs were extremely underweight, believed to be eating plastic inside the SUV.
• The third dog had an untreated open tumor and was in such poor condition that veterinarians had to humanely euthanize the animal.

Animal cruelty charges were filed accordingly.

Parents and Third Adult Charged With Multiple Felonies

Booking records show Gebron and Lewis were arrested on Nov. 19, while Edwards was taken into custody Nov. 20.

All three face nine charges each, including:

• Endangerment with a controlled substance (five counts)
• Possession of a controlled substance
• Animal cruelty
• Unlawful camping (for Lewis)
• Domestic violence-related charges (for Lewis)

None of the suspects has been released from jail. Gebron and Edwards are scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 23, while Lewis is set for Dec. 18.

Child protective services took custody of all five children.

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