Rosie O'Donnell's daughter's child neglect arrest triggers fight for custody over her grandchildren

Warning: Graphic content, readers’ discretion advised

MARINETTE, WISCONSIN: The custody of Rosie O'Donnell's grandchildren has come under intense scrutiny after the arrest of her daughter, Chelsea O'Donnell, for child neglect and drug-related charges, as reported by the Daily Mail.

Chelsea, 27, was recently arrested in Marinette, Wisconsin, and faces multiple felony charges, including maintaining a drug trafficking place, possession of methamphetamine, child neglect, and possession of THC.

Additionally, she is charged with two misdemeanors related to disorderly conduct and possession of illegally obtained prescription drugs.

Chelsea O'Donnell’s ex fights to limit her visitation rights after meth and neglect charges

Jacob Bourassa, the father of three of Chelsea’s children, has filed a motion requesting that she lose her unsupervised visitation rights due to her recent legal troubles. The pair shares three daughters: Skylar Rose, Riley, and Avery Lynn.

Jacob, who was awarded primary custody of their daughters in 2019, is now seeking to limit Chelsea’s access to supervised visits only, citing the severe nature of her charges and their potential harm to the children.

According to court documents, Jacob argues that the arrest indicates a "substantial change in circumstances" that jeopardizes the children's well-being. He has asked for primary custody and is requesting that Chelsea’s visitation rights be supervised. A court hearing is scheduled for November to address the issue.

Chelsea O'Donnell's drug arrest and troubling findings

Chelsea O'Donnell's arrest occurred on September 10, when police responded to her home after she called 911 during an argument with her boyfriend, Jacob Nelund. Police found disturbing conditions inside the home, including rotting food, dirty dishes, and unclean living spaces.

Officers also discovered methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and hypodermic needles in the home, including in the room where Chelsea’s infant son, Atlas, was found.

According to police reports, "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 that Chelsea and Nelund both appeared to be under the influence of drugs, with dilated pupils and other signs of methamphetamine use. 

The police report claimed, "His facial features were sunken in and he was missing some teeth. His muscle tone was very rigid and he seemed like he was flexing even though he was not."

While in the patrol car, Chelsea admitted to concealing something in her bra, which officers identified as a vial-shaped container along with a clear plastic bag holding white pills.

The authorities alleged that Chelsea was found with 18 grams of meth in her possession at the time of her arrest.

In a separate incident on October 11, police stopped Chelsea and arrested her after allegedly discovering a meth pipe. Officers also reportedly found pills, including Oxycodone, Morphine Sulfate, and Hydrocodone, hidden in her bra.

She was charged with meth possession, bail jumping, and possession of narcotics.

Chelsea is set to appear in court next month to face charges for both cases.

Rosie O'Donnell's grandchildren' custody battle sparks heated online reactions

The ongoing custody dispute over Rosie O'Donnell's grandchildren, following the arrest of her daughter Chelsea O'Donnell, has ignited a strong response online. Chelsea's arrest for child neglect and drug-related charges has raised serious concerns about the safety and well-being of her children, leading to her ex, Jacob Bourassa, seeking to limit her visitation rights to supervised visits only.

Many users expressed support for Jacob Bourassa, who is seeking primary custody of their three daughters, with one commenter stating, “It’s sad that it’s gotten to this point for the father to be able to take these children away from their abusive mother. Good for him though for getting them away from her and her boyfriend.”

One user wrote, “Drugs affect an entire family, not just the abuser. Those poor children starting out their life by being born into a drug-addicted family. It doesn't seem fair. Some people should not be allowed to have children. "

While some users defended Rosie O'Donnell, emphasizing that the situation with Chelsea was not her fault, others criticized her parenting. “Rosie was a rotten mother, despite all the money in the world, it could not fix that lousy personality,” one commenter stated.

However, another user wrote, “She was such a lovely little girl. So heartbreaking. Drugs affect an entire family, not just the abuser.”

Another added, "From what has been described about the conditions in the house, it is no place for a baby or child to spend one more second."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.