after her step-father called police. He tells 21 News he went to the home to visit the girl and was appalled to see her living in such conditions. The girl appeared to be covered in feces and likely hadn't bathed for sometime according to police.

Authorities also learned the girl, who is visually impaired, hasn't attended classes in the Warren City School district for two years.

She told police her mother was gone for a month, but her mother disputes that claim. At this point police have not filed charges against her mother. 

"Sometimes criminal charges aren't always the best option," Captain Robert Massucci said. "I believe the family is probably the most important part of this and them bringing it back together and doing what they're supposed to do as a family is probably the best way to go." 

Trumbull County Children Services is leading the investigation. Executive Director Tim Schaffner says "80 percent of the time, CSB prefers to work on an alternative response track" instead of filing charges against a parent. 

Still, police plan to interview the girl to determine any further action. Interviews are also planned with the girl and her mother as a part of Trumbull County Children Services' investigation.

The girl failed to return to school two years ago, when she would have been going into the 9th grade.

Warren's superintendent says a district liaison made multiple visits to her last known address that appeared to be vacant. 

"We seemed to hit dead ends repeatedly throughout the situation, we've made a number of contacts not only up through the juvenile prosecutor's contact, but also different times throughout the year," Steve Chiaro, superintendent of Warren city schools.

Chiaro says the district wasn't able to file truancy charges without a known address. He insists the district followed all internal and external protocols in locating the girl.