Rosie O’Donnell’s daughter, Chelsea Belle O’Donnell, was arrested in Wisconsin earlier this September, facing charges of child neglect, possession of meth, and possession of THC after police discovered her 11-month-old son living in squalid and hazardous conditions.
The arrest occurred after a 911 call reported an argument between Chelsea and her boyfriend, Jacob Nelund, who were both found to be under the influence of drugs at the time.
When police arrived at the home, they were met with disturbing conditions, including rotting food, moldy dishes, dirty diapers, used feminine hygiene products, and feces-stained clothing scattered throughout. In a detailed report, officers described the scene as filthy and uninhabitable.
“The inside of the home was disgusting,” one officer noted, adding that the smell of rotting milk was so overwhelming that it nearly made him vomit.
In the baby’s room, police found a box of hypodermic needles and a meth pipe with residue within reach of the child. The baby’s crib was located near drug paraphernalia, including a digital scale and small bags containing white residue. The police report emphasized the dangerous environment, noting that “the small child could have easily grabbed” the meth pipe.
The 27-year-old Chelsea initially attempted to downplay the incident, admitting to a dispute with her boyfriend but failing to explain the home’s condition adequately. When questioned by the officers, Chelsea was visibly nervous and evasive, according to the police report.
“You could tell Chelsea was not being honest whatsoever,” one officer wrote, recalling a similar incident that occurred at her home just weeks earlier.
After being placed in the patrol car, Chelsea confessed to hiding something in her bra, which turned out to be a vial containing 18 grams of methamphetamine.
Further investigation revealed that both Chelsea and Jacob were more focused on their drug habits than providing their baby with a clean, safe environment. “It appeared Jacob and Chelsea were more concerned with their drug addiction than providing [the baby] with a safe and clean environment,” the police stated in their report.
Police described the squalid scene that greeted them as they ventured inside the home with rotting food and dirty and moldy dishes all over the place.
‘The inside of the home was disgusting [with] milk that stunk so bad it almost made me puke, dirty diapers, used female hygiene products, unclean underwear with feces and blood stains and used razor blades on the floor,’ the report detailed.
In addition to her arrest, Chelsea is facing legal repercussions for her drug possession, and the child was placed under the care of child protective services.
Chelsea is no stranger to difficult circumstances. She was adopted by Rosie O’Donnell and her former partner, Kelli Carpenter, as a baby. However, she struggled with numerous challenges throughout her life, including mental health issues and substance abuse. Chelsea returned to Wisconsin to live closer to her biological mother when she turned 18, distancing herself from Rosie and her adopted family.
Rosie O’Donnell has publicly spoken about her daughter’s struggles in the past. In a 2017 interview with The Daily Mail, Rosie revealed that Chelsea had a difficult life, sharing that she was “born addicted to heroin” and had been in and out of hospitals throughout her childhood. “She has had a tough road. She is very sick. She is not capable of truth or reason,” Rosie said, reflecting on her daughter’s lifelong battles.
Rosie O’Donnell posted a picture of her daughter holding her baby with the caption: “Sadly this is not new for our family – Chelsea has struggled with drug addiction for a decade – we r all hopeful she will find her way out of this deadly disease.”
She and her ex-wife Kelli Carpenter adopted Chelsea when she was a baby, but she moved out of the family home in 2016 when she was 18, and went to Wisconsin to be close to her biological mother.
The recent arrest has brought Chelsea’s troubles into sharp focus once again, highlighting the deep-rooted issues that have plagued her life. Now, with these new charges, Chelsea’s future remains uncertain, and her child’s well-being is a significant concern for authorities and family members alike.