A West Virginia couple was arrested last month after Upshur County deputies found three children living in filthy, unsanitary conditions.
A couple, Catara White, 25, and Trevor Howell, 26, have been accused of child neglect. Despite having three children under their care, they were charged with just one count each of neglect, as per a report by WDTV.
Deputies were summoned to the couple’s residence due to concerns about loose dogs, a deteriorating floor, and reports that White and Howell were soliciting food and showers from neighbors for their three children aged 2, 5, and 15. Upon arrival, law enforcement discovered appalling conditions including piles of decaying garbage, dog feces with traces of blood, pots and pans filled with rotting food, a mound of vomit, and a ceiling on the verge of collapse 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 pets were immediately taken from the hazardous environment, while White and Howell were taken into custody. It was not disclosed how the children were related to the couple. Currently, White and Howell remain in custody at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail with individual bonds set at $50,000.
