RUTHERFORD COUNTY, Tenn.- Several children have been taken into state custody after police said they were found to be living in a home filled with dog feces and urine.
Officials with the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office said that a 5-year-old boy and two 3-year-old boys were removed from a home Tuesday. The children's parents 24-year-old Travis Krueger and his live-in girlfriend, 22-year-old Jennifer Winstanley were both arrested and charged with reckless endangerment and animal cruelty.
Investigators said they found the couple's three young children living in a home covered in dog feces and urine. One 3-year-old child was allowed to stay in Kruegar's care, but the child's 3-year-old brother and 5-year-old brother were removed into state custody.
"I encountered abominable conditions," Rutherford County Deputy Joshua Anderson reported. "Nearly the entire floor inside the residence was covered in dog feces and saturated with urine. I observed one of the children walking around the house, through the feces, with no shoes or socks on."
Rutherford County Detective Steve Craig said that home was deplorable and he found clothing scattered in the living room and multiple dogs roaming.
"There was dog feces and urine on the floor of every room I entered," Craig reported. "Newspapers, used drinking cups and soiled paper towels were scattered about the residence. The smell inside of the residence was deplorable,"
Officials called the Rutherford County Codes department and after investigating County Codes Director David Jones determined the home was unsafe for anyone to live in.
Police said 11 dogs were taken from the home as well.
Krueger and Winstanley were both booked into Rutherford County Adult Detention Center where they were later released on $2,500 bond.
