On Sunday, Oct. 5, the Mauldin Police Department arrested Ryan Addison Vassallo, 22, and Demarion Jaquez Estez Sloan, 23, both of Mauldin. Each individual was charged with two counts of Unlawful Conduct Towards a Child.
At 1:14 p.m. on Sunday, officers responded to a cardiac arrest call at Sloan’s residence on Cranberry Hill Circle in reference to Vassallo’s and Sloan’s 3-year-old daughter being found unresponsive without a pulse. What officers observed when arriving on scene can only be described as one of the most horrific cases of neglect towards children. It was discovered that their 1-year-old son was residing in the residence as well. Both children were extremely emaciated from malnutrition and were found to be severely underweight, with visible wounds from lack of proper hygiene and care. The conditions the children were living in were also extremely unsanitary, with an overwhelming presence of uncleaned human excrement. Due to the severity of the situation, it was clear that both children had been suffering neglect for an extensive amount of time.
Fortunately, first responders were able to get a pulse back on the 3-year-old. Both children were rushed to the hospital and are currently in critical condition. It is not known at this time if the children will be able to make a recovery due to the severity of their condition. Both children are currently in the custody of the Department of Social Services (DSS).
Vassallo and Sloan are the biological parents of both the 3-year-old girl and 1-year old boy. Both children lived with Sloan, and Vassallo reportedly visited them twice a month. Vassallo lived in a separate residence in Mauldin with her third child. It is unknown who the biological father of that child is at this time. That child has been removed from Vassallo’s custody and placed in DSS care.
Vassallo and Sloan are currently being held at the Greenville County Detention Center on a $200,000 bond each.