Yeah I guess the bottom line is that the 16yo could have picked up that caretaker/protector mantle for their younger siblings.
Yes, it could have happened and if it did I'd say everyone would agree that would be commendable and very praiseworthy.
(and also very sad)
So if you're saying that the 16 year old COULD have done that I don't have a problem, my problem is with the ones saying that the 16 year old SHOULD have done that, SHOULD have taken that role.

Really? And had the teenager done all that, procured clean clothes for the younger siblings, try to keep them fed in a house where groceries shopping had for sure been forgotten for months, try to pick up all the random shit that's laying everywhere around... Guess what that would've only enabled Rekieta to keep doing his shit, it would have delayed people in the community noticing the signs that something was very wrong.
So I have to do a full time house cleaner job in a junkie hoarder's place where there's 4 other kids so mom and dad and dad's GF can keep snorting blow!?
So we can agree that the older kid could have done it.
If you are saying that the older kid should've done it, I disagree and fuck you lol.