A man with prior convictions in Walker County is now at the center of a child neglect investigation in Chattanooga, where authorities removed two young children from what police described as dangerous and unsanitary living conditions.
Court records show Leon Woods, who pleaded guilty to child molestation in Walker County, in May, was arrested Friday alongside 32-year-old Carol Phillips. Both are charged with aggravated child neglect. Woods, a registered sex offender, now faces an additional sex offender registry violation related to the case.
Chattanooga Police were initially called to the residence for a welfare check involving the adults, after Woods’ daughter reported she had not heard from him following an argument with his girlfriend. Once inside, officers reported finding two diaper-clad children living among piles of trash, a strong foul odor, and roaches crawling across the floors and walls.
The home had been the subject of multiple previous concerns. A neighbor told authorities she filed child abuse reports with the state in October and again last week. Police also confirmed that officers had responded to the house in October on an unrelated call and submitted a report to the Department of Children’s Services regarding the condition of the home.
The neighbor said she watched the situation deteriorate for weeks and feared the children were not being cared for.
The children have since been removed from the home. The investigation remains ongoing.
