A Fort Wayne couple are accused of forcing their three children to live in a rodent- and cockroach-infested home that provided no usable bathing or sleeping areas, according to court records.
One of the children told authorities the family didn’t like to clean and would just leave trash on the floor.
Angela Dean, 44, and her husband, Brian Dean, 49, were charged Tuesday with three counts each of neglect of a dependent in Allen Superior Court. Each was being held in lieu of $7,500 bail Tuesday at the Allen County Lockup.
In April, Fort Wayne police went to the Dean home at 2813 E. Chestnut St., on the city’s east side, for a 911 call. At the home, officers noticed it was infested with cockroaches and rats, court records state. In addition, there were excessive amounts of trash, clothing and debris in the home, making it difficult to walk. Police found dirty laundry and debris in the home’s bathtub, making it difficult for the family to bathe, records state.
Officers smelled an odor of spoiled food and garbage in the home. The entrails, nose and snout of a rodent were visible on the kitchen floor. Police believe the family’s cat had eaten parts of the rodent. Live cockroaches were in the refrigerator and freezer, records state.
Police contacted the Indiana Department of Child Services. The children are in protective custody, said Ann Houseworth, a spokeswoman for the department.
Houseworth said she could not comment on whether the children are together or were separated.
A room the children slept in had debris covering the floor, a Child Services worker said in court records. The worker said the family was previously asked to clean their home and did so, but the Dean couple said they didn’t get rid of the cockroaches, records state.
One of the children told the worker that the family “just didn’t clean, they don’t like cleaning.” She said they would leave trash on the floor, records state.
Angela Dean told the worker that she was unable to clean the home because of “health concerns” and Brian Dean suffers heart issues, records state.
A Neighborhood Code Enforcement agent was contacted about the conditions, and the home was condemned, records state. The one-story home with white siding is now clean and has a “For Rent” sign outside.
Angela and Brian Dean now list an address in the 1400 block of Grant Avenue, according to lockup records.
