Robert Michael Januska, 42, of Gary, was arrested Nov. 8 after officers responding to a welfare check reported finding five children in unsanitary conditions inside a home in the 1300 block of Roosevelt Street in Gary.

Officers were dispatched at about 10:16 p.m. after an unknown caller reported that several people, including young children, were in the home without food or water. Januska gave officers permission to enter.

An officer reported a strong foul odor inside. The living-room floor was covered in filth leading toward the kitchen, where the officer reported seeing thousands of roaches, flies and other insects on the floor. The affidavit also describes filth on the walls and ceilings and insect fecal matter on objects, walls, the refrigerator and cabinets.

The five children — a 14-year-old boy, an 11-year-old girl, an 8-year-old boy, a 4-year-old boy and a 2-year-old boy — lived in the home with Januska and their grandmother.

The officer described the bedrooms as being in poor condition, with garbage and trash, dirty diapers and large amounts of trash hidden under beds. The beds in the youngest children’s rooms were covered in filth and stained black, and the rooms had a strong odor. The affidavit says roaches and flies were seen on the children’s beds, walls and floors, as well as in the 2-year-old’s crib.

The children’s clothes appeared dirty and stained and had not been washed, the officer reported. The 8-, 4- and 2-year-old children had filth on the tops and bottoms of their feet, including between their toes. Their hands and nails were also stained with filth, and the children appeared not to have been bathed or showered.

The 2-year-old was in the crib without clothes, with flies and roaches crawling on him and in the crib. The officer reported seeing an unknown liquid in the crib and filth on the child’s body, including the back, neck and face. The child also had red blemishes on his face that the officer said appeared to be skin irritation caused by the unsanitary conditions. The affidavit also describes insects on the 8- and 4-year-old children’s beds and brown marks on a nearby wall that appeared to be fecal matter.

The bathroom had insects and filth on the sink, bathtub, floor, walls and ceiling, according to the affidavit. The bathtub had blackened filth on its floor and appeared not to have been used for some time.

The caller had reported that the home lacked food and water. During the welfare check, the officer reported that the home had running water and food in the refrigerator, but also saw a large number of dead and live insects inside the refrigerator among the food.

Child Protective Services responded and assessed the home. The affidavit says the caseworker described the conditions as deplorable and a risk to the children’s health.

The caseworker advised that the children would be removed from the home. The affidavit later states they were in CPS custody to be turned over to their mother.

Lodged in the Lake County Jail.

Charges filed November 12, 2026:

Neglect of a dependent, Level 6 felony — five counts