Mother arrested after abandoning her 3 children in an apartment for 4 years, Pontiac MI

[tlcya]

The judge also ordered a mental health evaluation and for Bryant to follow any treatment plans imposed.

The defendant is scheduled to be back in court on April 15.
Pontiac mom accused of abandoning kids in squalor faces more charges

 

[al66pine]

An Informative Summary. TYVM. Community Ties?

so my take aways from the recent bond hearing are as follows:

Lack of stable address? per her attorney Kelli is not transient and had a stable residence she stayed at for some period prior to her arrest. there is a concern because of publicity about this case. It is with a family member who has strong ties to the community. Letters from family members, including one who is a "pillar of the community"

She absolutely does have a residence to return to, was never transient.

State's response: the individual the defendant is asking to be released to and to reside with is not the individual that wrote the letter. That individual is not vouching for her. That individual hasn't appeared in court and I do not believe is willing to provide that voucher to the court. That is a concern. Statements about her transient nature are based on what she herself told police during interviews.

Defense: Children are placed with family so of course it will be complicated as far as supporting or sending letters. I had conversations with the individual whose address was offered as a residence and that individual wanted to talk w Ms. Bryant about setting up a phone account. I spoke to that individual about a letter. She was asked to provide a letter but there was a time constraint, because they wanted to talk with her first before providing any letter and that hasn't happened.

Court - Court needs to be convinced this is a stable residence. I understand this individual not coming forward because of publicity but the court must be convinced.

Defense: Bryant has no criminal history. Ms. Bryant, when contacted after location of the children, paid for a lyft to go speak to officers and turn herself in.

Court: fact that she turned herself in is not in dispute. no record of prior non appearance for any previous crime. Court needs to hear about and has not heard about: employment status, Financial history as it relates to ability to pay, ties to community, ties to family members, and the residency issue.

Defense - Ms. Bryant does have a mental health diagnosis. We've asked for records but there was no time to get those records. This condition was verified by her father. she wasn't receiving any medication but was receiving treatment. Medical diagnosis for which she is supposed to receive infusions. Was scheduled for surgery for internal bleeding but has been unable to have it. Lifelong resident of Pontiac. Letter of support came from someone who has known her since she was 14. She grew up here, went to school here and has never left here. Strong ties in community.

Has parents and siblings in the City of Pontiac. Has community support from long time family friend. Everyone has made the children a priority so I want to make it clear that their support of Ms. Bryant doesn't mean the children are not a priority. Bryant was employed prior to incarceration. She was paid through the state of Michigan [I want to know what she did for employment that might be paid through the state of MI] Not verified but Bryant claims the person responsible for paying her has a common name and is with the DHFS. [not sure I followed that accurately?] She claims to have paystubs but as of this hearing those have not been located. She claims to have been making around $800 per month. Even with that monthly income she would be considered indigent.

Family is all caring for the children and do not have funds to assist Bryant with bond.

State: we do not dispute that Bryant cooperated with authorities. We've been given no proof of a diagnosis. She is not a reliable source of information. She has a history of stealing and deceiving. as to her Physical health, again, no verification was provided of this medical condition. what was provided was a treatment plan from the county jail and it appears she is receiving that treatment through the clinic at the jail. Allegation that defendant requires surgery, not supported by documentation. Irony that Bryant requires medical treatment when she stands accused of denying her children the most basic medical care for years. re employment history, no proof provided. So yes, the People have concerns. What we can confirm - Defendant abandoned her children for YEARS in this community. an Anonymous letter of support from community member. How do you support someone anonymously??

@tlcya Title pretty much says it.

I have the same Q's and comments as in [...] above.

Community ties?
Ties w ppl who apparently gave no thought or significance to
4 YR ABSENCE of 3 CHILDREN.

 

[Ontario Mom]

<RSBM>

Community ties?
Ties w ppl who apparently gave no thought or significance to
4 YR ABSENCE of 3 CHILDREN.

My guess would be, she lied to anyone and everyone who asked about the kids.
Every single time anyone asked.

It's not as if she would have said "oh yeah, I ditched them years ago to fend for themselves while I continued to receive benefits for them and spend that on myself".

jmo

 

[al66pine]

Absence of Children

My guess would be, she lied to anyone and everyone who asked about the kids.
Every single time anyone asked.

It's not as if she would have said "oh yeah, I ditched them years ago to fend for themselves while I continued to receive benefits for them and spend that on myself".

jmo

@Ontario Mom Thx for responding, & that would be my guess too. When asked, she lied.

I may be the only person in the entire Western Hemisphere (LOL ) who does not post/have a page on FB or IG, etc., etc, etc. I'm waaay older than her.

Seems some people - if not seeing her kids in person - would notice a void of kiddy pix in her soc media (assuming) & wonder why there are no current pix.

From the description & pix of house condictions, I doubt if she snapped pix of them there & posted on her soc med.

So if they asked her, yep, she likely just lied again.

Seems like it would be difficult to come up anything even faintly plausible.
I sent them to a finishing school in Switzerland?
They all got full ride scholarships to an East Coast (middle) boarding school?

Okay, whatvever lame excuses she could use, seems that even the doubters may not have been prompted to contact Child Serv or LE. IDK.

Regardless, sad, sad, sad.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Absence of Children

...I may be the only person in the entire Western Hemisphere (LOL ) who does not post/have a page on FB or IG, etc., etc, etc. I'm waaay older than her...

*respectfully selected* I don't do any social media, either. Neither does my husband. We are 75 and 76.

 

[al66pine]

Ages.

*respectfully selected* I don't do any social media, either. Neither does my husband. We are 75 and 76.

Okay, so that makes THREE of us in the Western Hemisphere who do not post on FB, IG, etc,

Agewise, if both of you stand still, I'll catch up w you in a few years.

 

[Izzylizzy]

@BetteDavisEyes TY for the update in this tragic case.

Per link today, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald charged Bryant with three counts of Welfare Fraud.

She said:
"... a review of Bryant’s support payments by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services alleges an overpayment, obtained by fraud, of $29,397 from January 2022 and February 2025."
“The defendant appears to have effectively abandoned her children while collecting their public assistance.. This crime is, first and foremost, a theft from Kelli Bryant’s children. These resources were intended to ensure they had the basic necessities denied to them. The children deserved better.”

Also from article,
"Welfare Fraud over $500 is punishable by up to four years in prison or a $5,000 fine."
___________________________

Oakland County mom accused of abandoning kids for years in filthy home facing welfare fraud charges

The Oakland County mother accused of abandoning her three children, leaving them to live alone for years inside a filthy home, was given three additional charges.

www.clickondetroit.com

I find it great news that Jennifer & James Crumbley's prosecutor, Karen McDonald, is in charge of this case.

 

[Ontario Mom]

Absence of Children


@Ontario Mom Thx for responding, & that would be my guess too. When asked, she lied.

I may be the only person in the entire Western Hemisphere (LOL ) who does not post/have a page on FB or IG, etc., etc, etc. I'm waaay older than her.

Seems some people - if not seeing her kids in person - would notice a void of kiddy pix in her soc media (assuming) & wonder why there are no current pix.

From the description & pix of house condictions, I doubt if she snapped pix of them there & posted on her soc med.

So if they asked her, yep, she likely just lied again.

Seems like it would be difficult to come up anything even faintly plausible.
I sent them to a finishing school in Switzerland?
They all got full ride scholarships to an East Coast (middle) boarding school?

Okay, whatvever lame excuses she could use, seems that even the doubters may not have been prompted to contact Child Serv or LE. IDK.

Regardless, sad, sad, sad.

None of my older daughters with kids *ever* post their pics on social media. There are many in their generation (30's & early 40's) that have taken a sharp turn away from posting the little one's pics online, for lots of very good reasons. Some will post the pics but with a giant smiley emoticon covering the child's face, but some just never ever post pics. I very much appreciate that they are protecting their children's privacy.

That being said, this woman could have used that as an excuse as well, if anyone did ask about the lack of pics of her kids - knowing how common it's become. It would have been a believable lie if she used that one.

 

[borndem]

*respectfully selected* I don't do any social media, either. Neither does my husband. We are 75 and 76.

Right in there with you two. Same ages. No social media -- we get enuff from Washington Post, NYT and 7:00pm /11:00pm news.

We're doing okay, IMO! :- )

 

[al66pine]

If Kiddy Pix Not on Mom's FB?

None of my older daughters with kids *ever* post their pics on social media. There are many in their generation (30's & early 40's) that have taken a sharp turn away from posting the little one's pics online, for lots of very good reasons. Some will post the pics but with a giant smiley emoticon covering the child's face, but some just never ever post pics. I very much appreciate that they are protecting their children's privacy.

That being said, this woman could have used that as an excuse as well, if anyone did ask about the lack of pics of her kids - knowing how common it's become. It would have been a believable lie if she used that one.

@Ontario Mom Thanks for ^ posting.
A very good point, a possibility which I overlooked.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Pontiac mom accused of abandoning kids called them from jail, prosecutor says

Kelli Bryant allegedly called her children's caregiver ten times from the county jail over a period of five days to talk to her children.

www.detroitnews.com

A Pontiac mother accused of abandoning her three kids in their home for several years could lose her ability to make phone calls from jail after allegedly communicating with her children.

Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald's office asked a judge on Friday to revoke Kelli Bryant’s jailhouse communications privileges after she allegedly violated a court order prohibiting her from having contact with her children or their caregiver.

Bryant called her children’s caregiver ten times between March 8 and March 12 from the Oakland County jail to talk to her children about her criminal case, according to McDonald's office...

 

[Joe Friday]

Apparently she hasn't been able to bond out even with the reduced bond amount. Too bad, so sad.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Why prosecutors want communication revoked for Oakland County mom accused of abandoning 3 kids

Prosecutors want communication privileges revoked for an Oakland County mother who’s accused of abandoning her three children to live alone in a filthy home for years.

www.clickondetroit.com

OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. – Prosecutors want communication privileges revoked for an Oakland County mother who’s accused of abandoning her three children to live alone in a filthy home for years.

Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald filed a motion in 50th District Court on Friday to revoke Kelli Bryant’s communication privileges for allegedly calling the children’s caregiver ten times between March 8 and March 12, 2025, to talk about her children and her criminal case...

 

[tlcya]

Why prosecutors want communication revoked for Oakland County mom accused of abandoning 3 kids

Prosecutors want communication privileges revoked for an Oakland County mother who’s accused of abandoning her three children to live alone in a filthy home for years.

www.clickondetroit.com

OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. – Prosecutors want communication privileges revoked for an Oakland County mother who’s accused of abandoning her three children to live alone in a filthy home for years.

Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald filed a motion in 50th District Court on Friday to revoke Kelli Bryant’s communication privileges for allegedly calling the children’s caregiver ten times between March 8 and March 12, 2025, to talk about her children and her criminal case...

I wish I could feign surprise but we all knew this was exactly what this woman would do.

 

[tlcya]

Bryant is accused of having other inmates call the children’s caregiver on her behalf.

The prosecutor’s office said Bryant violated the court order directing her to have no contact with her children or their caregiver.
Why prosecutors want communication revoked for Oakland County mom accused of abandoning 3 kids

 

[TMich6811]

And this is why they didn’t leave

 

[tlcya]

And this is why they didn’t leave

yep, even from jail she is still attempting to instill fear in her children. MOO

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Are jail phone calls recorded or otherwise monitored? With whom did KB speak and what was the gist of the conversations?

 

[IAMWAN]

Are jail phone calls recorded or otherwise monitored? With whom did KB speak and what was the gist of the conversations?

Why prosecutors want communication revoked for Oakland County mom accused of abandoning 3 kids

Prosecutors want communication privileges revoked for an Oakland County mother who’s accused of abandoning her three children to live alone in a filthy home for years.

www.clickondetroit.com

Here's another article with some of the same info, but had additional info about who she was speaking to. I thought we weren't really supposed to know where her kids were? It is clearly stated in this article.

"They also claim contacting her father is not in violation because she did not contact her children directly. However, the judge said in her arraignment on March 12 that she could not contact the children and their caregiver, which is Bryant’s father.

Bryant’s attorneys denied the claim that she had other inmates contact her father during her arraignment on welfare fraud charges. They also said Bryant did not receive her bond conditions in writing, making her unaware she could not contact her father."

 

[Joe Friday]

Bryant’s attorneys denied the claim that she had other inmates contact her father during her arraignment on welfare fraud charges. They also said Bryant did not receive her bond conditions in writing, making her unaware she could not contact her father."

SBM BBM

Wouldn't the bond conditions only take effect if she bonded out?

I think her attorney is looking for a loophole to hide the fact that she shouldn't have been calling her father or her children regardless of where she was.

JMO