Two young children were found living in “a completely wild, unkept state” while their parents Jessica Borkert and James Domoracki failed to appear in court to face child abandonment charges after allegedly abandoning them for two months in a cockroach-infested apartment with their mobility-impaired grandmother.
Key Takeaways
- Wisconsin couple Jessica Borkert and James Domoracki now face arrest warrants after failing to appear in court on child abandonment charges for leaving their two young children in deplorable conditions.
- The children, ages 2 and 4, were found non-verbal, dirty, and neglected in a Waukesha apartment described as “a complete and total mess” with one child having bruises and matted hair.
- Text messages between the parents revealed evidence of narcotics use and trade, indicating where their priorities lay while their children suffered.
- The children were left with an elderly grandmother who was physically unable to provide proper care due to mobility issues.
- Parents claimed financial difficulties but investigators found their explanations “evasive” regarding support for the children over the two-month abandonment period.
Waukesha Parents Abandon Children in Squalor
Wisconsin authorities have issued arrest warrants for Jessica Borkert and James Domoracki after the couple failed to appear for their court hearing on charges of child abandonment. The disturbing case began when officials discovered their two young children, ages 2 and 4, living in horrific conditions in a Waukesha apartment. According to court documents, the children were found “in a completely wild, unkept state” with one child having bruises and matted hair, while both appeared dirty and were non-verbal when authorities intervened on January 9.
Court documents described the apartment as “a complete and total mess” filled with overwhelming clutter, garbage, and a cockroach infestation. The children were being nominally supervised by their elderly grandmother, who due to mobility issues was physically incapable of providing the care the young children needed. This negligent arrangement had reportedly been in place for approximately two months, with minimal support from the parents for basic necessities like food, diapers, and healthcare.
Parents’ Excuses Fall Flat
When questioned by investigators, the parents offered excuses that quickly unraveled. Borkert claimed she was working in Grafton and staying at a motel in Oak Creek, but was described as “evasive” when asked about how she was supporting the children during her absence. Domoracki admitted to attempting to send food and diapers but claimed he had run out of money. Both parents’ priorities came into serious question when investigators discovered text messages between them containing evidence of narcotics use and trade.
“A complete and total mess” is how court documents described the living conditions where these innocent children were forced to survive, according to crime reports.
The couple’s failure to appear in court only compounds their apparent disregard for their parental responsibilities and has resulted in warrants being issued for their arrest. Meanwhile, the children have been removed from the dangerous environment and placed in proper care, though the long-term effects of their neglect remain concerning. The abandonment and subsequent neglect represent a disturbing example of parental failure that crosses well beyond any reasonable definition of acceptable childcare.
Similar Cases Highlight Growing Problem
Tragically, this Wisconsin case is not isolated. In Upshur County, authorities arrested Trevor A. Howell and Catara A. White for child neglect after finding young children living in similarly hazardous conditions filled with garbage and bloody animal feces. In Georgia, Alexandra Woodward and John McHugh faced child cruelty charges for leaving children home alone with access to alcoholic beverages and nicotine vapes. These cases represent a disturbing pattern of child neglect that demands greater attention and intervention.
“Intentional disregard” of a “serious and imminent risk” to children is how Georgia law defines conditions for intervention in cases where children are left alone, according to Lenore Skenazy, quoted in news reports.
Child welfare experts point out that while various states have different specific laws regarding when children can be left alone, the Waukesha case goes far beyond any reasonable interpretation of acceptable parental behavior. The deliberate abandonment of very young children for months in unsafe conditions, while the parents apparently prioritized drug-related activities, represents a clear case of criminal neglect that demands accountability. The fact that Borkert and Domoracki couldn’t even bother to show up for their court date further demonstrates their continued disregard for their responsibilities as parents.
