OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. – The Oakland County mother accused of abandoning her three kids for years was back in court Friday.
Kelli Bryant, 34, of Pontiac, was charged with counts of first-degree child abuse after authorities found her three children — a 15-year-old boy, a 13-year-old girl, and a 12-year-old girl — living alone. She was also charged with welfare fraud.
The mother was bound over for trial on all charges on Friday, May 16.
The first person called to testify on Friday was Oakland County Deputy Quincy Curtis. He recalled the foul odor and the horrific conditions of the home he encountered when he was called for a welfare check.
READ MORE -- Foul smell at Oakland County home where kids were found made deputy think he was searching for body
Another witness who testified was Brian Martin, an investigator for the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office.
His role in the case involved extracting phone data for investigation purposes.
Investigator: How Bryant had kids’ numbers saved in her phone
When searching the oldest child’s phone, the investigator learned that Bryant’s name was saved as “World’s Greatest Mom,” and the middle child’s contact for Bryant was labeled similarly.
In Bryant’s phone, she had the oldest child saved as “My Oldest,” and the younger two children were saved in her phone as “Kid 1″ and “Kid 2.”
He also testified about text messages that were sent between Bryant and the oldest child.
Text messages about food drop-offs
On Nov. 30, 2024, Martin said Bryant sent the oldest a text that said, “It’s there, hurry.”
Bryant sent another text right after and said, “Let me know you got it.”
After reviewing the context, he learned it was about food that was left on the porch for the kids.
Martin said the oldest child would send Bryant messages with requests for food, and then Bryant would either drop off the food or it would be delivered to the porch.
If it were a delivery, Bryant would tell the oldest child when the food arrived and to open the door and get the food, and then close it.
The investigator read a text from December 2024 that was sent in a group chat that included Bryant and the three children.
“I don’t know if I feel comfortable with you opening the door without me knowing,” Bryant had said.
He said this message was “a little odd” because Bryant wouldn’t open the door either; she would just leave the food on the porch.
The children were asking for things from their mother, and she would often respond, saying he didn’t have the money or maybe next week, delaying getting them items as long as she could.
Oldest child gives girl his address
Martin said the oldest child had met a girl, who lives in another state, online, and he gave her his home address so that she could send him a present, which upset Bryant. On Dec. 17, 2024, she sent her oldest son a text that said, “You should’ve asked me first, I would have gave you an address to use, but not that one.”
Texts, calls sent on day of welfare check
On the day the Oakland County deputies conducted the welfare check at the home, Bryant sent the oldest child several texts.
When the boy sent messages to Bryant telling her there were police inside the home and they were scared and didn’t know what to do, Bryant told them to “hide and be quiet,” according to the investigator.
After that, Bryant made about a dozen phone calls “in quick succession” to the oldest child. Martin said none of the calls were answered.
Bryant’s attorney, Cecilia Quirindongo-Baunsoe, argued that Bryant was concerned that the oldest child gave the address to someone he had never met.
Quirindongo-Baunsoe also said the mom was active in communicating with the children over text and phone calls.
Martin said there were more text messages sent than phone calls, and said messages were exchanged when something was needed or when the oldest child was arguing with his siblings.