Father of Girl in ‘House of Squalor' Case: ‘I Didn't Think She Was Going to Be Found'

"I honestly, I didn't think she was going to be found."

Speaking exclusively to NECN, the father of 8-year-old Brianna Paquette - who had been living in a Newburyport, Massachusetts "house of squalor" and was found in the Bronx with her fugitive mother and grandmother Wednesday night - is thrilled police didn't give up on trying to find her.

"I'm very grateful that Brianna is back and I have a chance now to finally get back my visitation that was granted in 2010," Brianna's father, Michael Hardy, said.

Michael Hardy and his attorneys said they were concerned that her mother, 32-year-old Kristin Paquette, and grandmother, 54-year-old Debra Paquette, had essentially disappeared with his daughter more than seven weeks before arrest warrants were issued Tuesday, when they didn't show up to court to face child endangerment charges.

The two women sought by police for their alleged role in the Newburyport, Massachusetts, “house of squalor” case were arraigned Friday.

"The more time that passed that they weren't sure where the child and mother and grandmother were, it obviously became more alarming everyday," Hardy's attorney, Elena Rosnov, said.

And they were shocked to find out the women had been found in a $1 million apartment in the Bronx.

"When the authorities went inside the residence, these two women were hidden in a back bedroom that they had barricaded," prosecutor Maura Bailey said in court.

"I think we were all a little bit startled quite frankly at that," Nicole Reilley, another attorney for Hardy, said.

But now they're breathing a sigh of relief, with Brianna in DCF custody, Hardy is hopeful he can finally see his daughter again. He claims Kristin Paquette hadn't been allowing him court-sanctioned visitation for years.

"I can build a relationship now with my daughter and let her know that I never stopped trying to see her," Hardy said.

Trash, Animal Feces Found in Home

The attorneys for Kristin and Debra Paquette claim they were in contact with DCF and didn't know about their court dates because their mail was being sent to their Strong Street home that they had been condemned.

The woman are each being held on $20,000 cash bail.

They are due back in court Sept. 29.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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