THREE children were found abandoned in an apartment and cops believe they lived alongside the "skeletal remains of their brother for a year".
Officers made the discovery in Houston, Texas on Sunday afternoon as they responded to a welfare check.
Police say they received a call from a boy, 15, who claimed that his brother, nine, had been dead for a year, KTRK reports.
The teenager alleged that his parents had not lived in the flat for months.
Cops found the boy and two other kids, 10, and seven, in the flat and they were taken to hospital as they showed signs of malnourishment.
It’s reported that their brother's body wasn't hidden in the flat. The youngster's cause of death hasn't been disclosed.
Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, of Harris County, told reporters: “Very horrific situation, very tragic. I have been in the business a long time, and I’ve never heard of a scenario like this.
“It really caught be my surprise. [We’re] connecting all the dots at this point, it appears [the kids] were in there while the body was deteriorating.
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"It appears they were basically fending for each other.”
The mother of the kids and her boyfriend have been found and are being quizzed by investigators.
It's unclear if the children are enrolled in school.
It's not known how long the kids had been alone. They have been taken into custody.
Neighbors living within the apartment block were stunned as cops swarmed the complex.
Kayla Williams told the Houston Chronicle: “This is crazy."
Dianne Davis, who has lived in the complex for two years, said: “This is like something you see on TV, in the movies.”
The investigation continues and cops say multiple agencies will be involved as the case involves youngsters.
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