PONTIAC, Mich. — An Oakland County district court judge set a $250 million bond for a Pontiac mother accused of abandoning her three children to live in squalor by themselves for years, deeming her a flight risk.

Kelli Bryant was arraigned Thursday in Pontiac's 50th District Court on three counts of first-degree child abuse and faces life in prison if convicted. The Oakland County Prosecutor's office also indicated it intends to seek the ending of Bryant's parental rights to the children.

District Judge Ronda Fowlkes Gross also ordered Bryant to have no contact with her own three children or anyone children under the age of 18 if Bryant is able to post the bond.

Bryant, who appeared from the Oakland County Jail via Zoom during the video arraignment, nodded her head as Fowlkes Gross addressed her. The judge told Bryant to have no contact with her children, a 15-year-old boy, a 13-year-old girl and a 12-year-old girl, saying she was concerned Bryant would instruct them not to cooperate with authorities.

“I find her a continued danger to her children," Fowlkes Gross said before setting bond. "I don’t know who the children have been given to.”

Bryant, who police said lived elsewhere in Pontiac while her children lived alone surrounded by trash and feces, was arrested Friday after her landlord called police to do a welfare check because he hadn't heard from her and because she had not paid rent since October.

Fowlkes Gross told Bryant during the hearing not to try to communicate with her children through other people and that her phone calls at the jail will be recorded and reviewed.

"Should she post that bond, she is not to have any contact with children by family members, third party agents or friends," the judge said. "So Ms. Bryant, I want you to understand, any phone calls from the jail ... (are) recorded. Should the court find out that you are sending messages (of) fear tactics and intimidation of the children, your own privileges will be removed."

Oakland County Assistant Prosecutor Sarah Greene told the judge that Bryant was not employed and that her residency status was transient. Greene asked for a high cash bond with conditions and no contact with the three victims in the case.

"What I found very suspicious in the report, services, there's two different addresses given to her, so I believe that one could apply," the judge said. "And she's transient. She's from here, she's up there. We don't know where she resides. I do find her an acute risk."

Cecilia Quirindongo-Baunsoe, Bryant's attorney, called the charges against Bryant a very serious offense, but argued her client should be released on a personal bond.

"They had no issues finding my client to arrest her. So I just want the record to be clear on that," Quirindongo-Baunsoe told the judge.

Bryant's next court date is March 4 for a probable cause conference.

Bryant's children were found living in a "biohazard," Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said at a Tuesday press conference, and survived on weekly drop-offs of prepared food. Some rooms in the house had garbage piled as high as 4 feet, and deputies found mold and human waste throughout the house.

"The three children in this case suffered unimaginable abuse and neglect over a long period of time," Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said in a statement earlier this week. "Thankfully, they've now been rescued from that, and our first priority has been and will continue to be, their safety and well being."

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