The bones found on the property are believed to be human, according to Stark County Coroner’s Office investigator Harry Campbell. The bones are thought to be very old.
A Canton couple is in trouble for multiple animal cruelty charges after authorities found animals living in extremely poor conditions in their home. Along with the animal cruelty charges, officials suspect that bones discovered on the property could be human.
Billy Jack Park, aged 45, was taken into custody on March 5 and is now facing seven counts of prohibitions concerning companion animals in Canton Municipal Court.
One day later, Kristie Hatton, 41, was likewise charged with seven counts of prohibitions concerning companion animals. Authorities say Hatton, identified as Park’s girlfriend, was already in custody for domestic violence and felonious assault charges.
According to a complaint filed in the case, Park “knowingly caused serious physical harm to 3 dogs, 2 birds and 2 turtles by confining the animals in deplorable conditions. The residence was filled with hundreds of rats, feces, urine, dirt, garbage, clutter, deceased animal remains and other contamination.”
Body camera footage from the Canton Police Department showed dozens of city workers in protective gear executing a search warrant at the home on Wednesday. According to the criminal complaint, the investigation into the couple began after someone tipped off authorities about rats coming from inside the residence.
During their response to the home, located in the 1000 block of Wertz Avenue Southwest, officials also discovered bones on the property. Stark County Coroner’s Office investigator Harry Campbell confirmed the discovery to 3News, saying the bones are “likely human” but appear to be very old.
According to officials, the bones have not yet been sent for forensic testing as the investigation is in its early stages.
Neighbors are now calling the property a “house of horrors.” For Theresa Vitavac, whose mother lived next door, the news was devastating.
“Sometimes he (Park) mowed for my mom, sometimes he shoveled her sidewalk, and he was always asking, ‘Is your mom OK? Does she need anything?'” Vitavac recalled. “He was talkative and pretty polite, but she (Hatton) never said a word.”
Like many in the neighborhood, Vitavac never suspected anything was wrong.
“I mean, we didn’t know what was going on inside the (house),” she said. “And at the same time, it’s like, ‘How could you not know?'”
Another neighbor, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed anger at the conditions inside.
“It makes me sick when I think that somebody could abuse a helpless animal, and the animals can’t do anything about it,” they said. “I guess that’s the only thing I’m looking forward to now is them tearing that house down. No more animals will be abused in there.”
Park and Hatton both appeared for an arraignment hearing on Friday, where a judge set their bond at $50,000. A pretrial hearing for Park is scheduled for March 11 at 10:30 a.m., while Hatton’s hearing is set for March 12 at 10:30 a.m.
According to The Pipsqueakery, a 501(c)(3) animal rescue in Bloomington, Indiana, their team removed 262 rats from the home as part of the response to the case.
