(WKYT) – A Berea woman was arrested and charged on Monday after animals and children in her care were found to be living in “deplorable conditions, according to an arrest citation.
Tiffany Madsen, 36, faces one count of first-degree wanton endangerment, three counts of second-degree criminal abuse of children under 12 and a count of second-degree cruelty to animals.
Berea police were tipped off about possible child neglect and, after making contact with family, were sent in the direction of Madsen.
Madsen was reluctant to allow police into her home once they made contact and asked if she had time to clean it before they visited, according to an arrest citation.
Once officers met Madsen at her residence, she was still reluctant to let them in due to its condition. Officers said they observed that the home’s front porch was covered in garbage with a foul smell permeating the area.
As officers continued into the home, they had to use PPE due to conditions inside of it, according to the arrest citation.
Inside the home was a large presence of insects, numerous open food items, feces caked in and piled on the floor, and the strong smell of animal waste.
Police said in the arrest citation that there was feces mixed in with clothing and toys that were spread throughout the house, making the home difficult to navigate.
The home was found to have numerous holes in its walls, and there was no running water. The family was using water bottles from a cooler.
Some of Madsen’s four children were found to have matted and dirty hair. One told police that the family had to go to a family member’s house to shower but was not sure how often that occurred.
Eight animals—three dogs and five cats—were also found to be in poor condition.
The animals and the children were all removed from the home.