(WKYT) – Kentucky State Police are continuing to investigate a criminal abuse case in Bath County after troopers say they found two young children and animals living in deplorable conditions at an Owingsville home.
Shane and Angel Dufresne were each charged with first-degree criminal abuse. KSP says the couple is being held at the Rowan County Detention Center.
What troopers found
Troopers were called to the home on June 18 for an abuse or neglect complaint. Kentucky State Trooper Tanner Tout said officers arrived to find two adults under the influence of methamphetamine, a 2-year-old living out of a playpen, and a 4-year-old who was later found to have methamphetamine in their system. Troopers also reported finding the skeleton of a dog outside near a tree.
“It’s really a bad situation for all,” Tout said.
The children were removed from the home. Shane and Angel Dufresne were arrested on June 25.
Community member and childcare provider Bethany Anderson said she was troubled to learn children were involved.
“It breaks my heart to know it’s in this county, and who knows, it can be up or down the street from me. You never know,” Anderson said.
Animals removed from the property
Animal rescuers say more than a dozen animals were also on the property. Ashley Bennett with Strays and Runaways Rescue said she visited the home multiple times attempting to catch animals and find them new homes.
Bennett said nine dogs, five cats, and a handful of chickens were on the property. She also said she witnessed a dog from the property attack a kitten.
“It’s definitely something I’ll never forget,” Bennett said.
Tout said a neighbor agreed to help care for the animals. However, with no animal shelters in Bath County, Bennett and other community members were left to find placements on their own.
“That’s something that needs to be addressed, because that should never be happening, as bad of an animal crisis as we have anyway,” Bennett said.
She said shelters in neighboring counties were also full, leaving no immediate options for the animals.
“It’s just so unfortunate we don’t have anywhere emergent or immediate we can take these babies to,” Bennett said.
Kentucky State Police said the investigation is ongoing.