Woman Charged With Child And Animal Neglect

A Sevier County woman is in jail after being charged with child neglect. According to the Sevierville Police Department, they responded to an apartment complex in Kodak around 1:45 Sunday morning. Residents had seen a toddler outside an apartment in 50 degree weather wearing nothing but a diaper. Officers recognized the child from previous calls to that apartment. The mother, 27 year old Kaaernitha Griffin was contacted and came to the apartment. She told officers she had been riding around with friends in Knoxville and the child was supposed to be with a babysitter. Officers entered the apartment and found it in disarray with a sink full of dirty dishes, laundry covering the floor and washer and dryer. A dog was found locked in a bathroom with feces all over the floor. Griffin was taken into custody and charged with child neglect and animal neglect.