A West Virginia couple was arrested last month after Upshur County deputies found three children living in filthy, unsanitary conditions.
Catara White, 25, and Trevor Howell, 26, face charges for a single count of child neglect, despite the presence of three children, as reported by WDTV.
Authorities were alerted to the residence because of stray dogs, a complaint about the flooring in disrepair, and reports that the couple sought help from neighbors for food and bathing for their children, aged 2, 5, and 15. Upon arrival, officers discovered heaps of decaying trash, fresh and dried dog excrement with traces of blood, cookware filled with spoiled food, a pile of vomit, and a collapsing ceiling above the sleeping areas.
The children, court documents say, were running barefoot through the house and had accordingly smeared the dog feces everywhere.
Deputies saw the middle child drink from a Crock-Pot sitting outside and found “pick” wounds on the youngest child’s arm.
In a bathroom, they found newborn puppies and more dog feces.
The deputies also found a substanced believed to be marijuana in reach of the children.
The children and animals were removed from the premises, and both White and Howell were taken into custody. Police have yet to clarify the children’s relationship to the couple, who are detained at Tygart Valley Regional Jail, each with a bond set at $50,000.
