Charge: Couple left North Bend girl with cerebral palsy to rot, starve while living on her welfare

They had two flat screen TVs, an extensive reptile collection and a steady stream of welfare checks meant to help a blind teen with cerebral palsy.

She had 23 rotten teeth, a dirty diaper and a bedroom the King County Sheriffs Office detective on the case described as the worst shed seen during her career.

Now, the young womans state-paid caretakers April and Jeffrey Henderson face felony charges related to the 19-year-olds treatment and a purported Medicaid fraud that saw thousands of dollars paid for care that the girl was cruelly denied.

The North Bend couple is alleged to have lived on the $4,100 or so per month in government benefits meant to provide for the young woman, who was orphaned at age 7 and left in the Hendersons care.

When investigators arrived at the wooded, rural home, they found the teen naked except for a diaper, left in a room littered with soiled clothing, dried vomit and trash. Weighing just 67 pounds, the girl was described as skeletal by the case detective.

Writing the court, Detective Belinda Paredes-Garrett said the young woman was flailing and crying when help arrived.

The only way to describe her moaning was that of a wounded animal, the detective said in charging papers.

(She) lived in the worst conditions I have experienced in 16 years of law enforcement, Paredes-Garrett continued, noting that the room and the young womans wheelchair were covered in filth.

Investigators were called to the Henderson home on Oct. 25, 2012, the day after staff at Childrens Hospital reported concerns about the young womans health.

While she isnt actually related to either Henderson, the teen had been cared for by Jeffrey Hendersons mother before her death a decade ago. She was then placed in the Hendersons care.

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Charge: Couple left North Bend girl with cerebral palsy to rot, starve while living on her welfare