A Florida couple has been arrested after authorities say they kept their six children locked in rooms with nothing but a potty training toilet, all while the family home was in such poor condition that officers struggled to breathe inside.
Arrest and Charges
Police charged 42-year-old Nathan Forczyk and 41-year-old Laura Forczyk with six counts each of felony child neglect. Both were taken into custody Tuesday but later released on $30,000 bond. They are due in court on September 30.
What Officers Found Inside the Home
According to the arrest affidavit, police discovered:
Six children locked separately in bedrooms
No access to food, water, or proper bathroom facilities
Only child-sized potty training toilets in each room
Severe damage to the home, including drywall ripped away with exposed live wires
Overwhelming odors of cat urine, human waste, and feces scattered across the home
Police described the house as “unsafe, unsanitary, and hazardous” to the children’s health.
Father’s Explanation
After being released from jail, Nathan Forczyk spoke to local reporters. He said four of his six children — ages ranging from 6 months to 7 years — have nonverbal autism, are not potty-trained, and often damage the home due to their behavioral challenges.
Forczyk claimed he contacted the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) himself to seek help, insisting that his children came from a “loving home.”
Police Response
The Palm Bay Police Department acknowledged that the family appeared “down on their luck” and “in desperate need of assistance.” Still, officers stressed that the environment inside the home posed immediate danger to the children.
What’s Next
The Forczyks are scheduled to appear in court at the end of September. In the meantime, their children’s wellbeing and care are being addressed by child protection services.
This case sheds light on the thin line between struggling families in need of support and situations that cross into criminal neglect. While the Forczyks argue they were overwhelmed and sought help, investigators say their children were left in dangerous, unhealthy conditions that could not be ignored.
