Dead woman, 10 sick children found in ‘squalid’ Maple Valley home

A dead woman and 10 sick children were discovered in a Maple Valley home last week, which had a long history of complaints and concerns from neighbors.

King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) deputies described “squalid conditions” inside the home at S.E. 200th Street, according to KIRO 7.

Some neighbors have claimed that the problems have persisted for years, and are uncommon in the small community.

“It’s very disturbing,” neighbor Mike Sawyer told KIRO 7. “That kind of stuff just, at least as far as I know, doesn’t happen here. We are a small community. Most people are very close, and most people are close with their neighbors.”

A history of complaints, but no entry until last week

Deputies noted that they’ve received complaints over time about suspicious activity, burning, and unusual noises within the property.

Between April 2025 and February 2026, three different notable instances required a deputy response to the home.

The first two responses did not involve deputies entering the home, which included an exterior-only search warrant where stolen cars were found on the property, and a stolen car chase that ended at the property, where the driver was arrested for eluding and hit and run.

The third case involved deputies conducting a welfare check at the home where the “squalid” conditions were found.

As deputies entered the home on Feb. 13, they found spoiled food, potential fire hazards, and strong odors consistent with raw sewage and animal waste.

Deputies stated they had no knowledge that children were inside the home until last week. All 10 of the children were transported to the hospital and are now in the custody of Child Protective Services.

“Law enforcement reported suspected child abuse and neglect to DCYF, and we began to coordinate with them to ensure staff were ready to respond to the home when law enforcement placed the children in protective custody,” the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) said in a prepared statement regarding the incident.

Sawyer noted his frustration with local law enforcement and the time it took to resolve the matter.

“Time after time, you come out to the same place,” Sawyer told KIRO 7. “I don’t know what to say other than I’m disappointed in that performance.”

It is still unclear if the woman who was found dead inside the home has any relation to the children.

The investigation remains ongoing, and no arrests have been made.

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