Man arrested for keeping kids in deplorable conditions
When police arrived at this wood-framed house at 5018 N. 30th Street, they found six children, ages 5 to 13 years old, clad in filthy clothes. Click to enlarge. [John Pendygraft | Times]
TAMPA — Police arrested a 31-year-old man this morning after police received a tip of children and animals living in "deplorable" conditions.
Dewey James Hendrix was charged with six counts of child neglect, eight counts of cruelty to animals and four counts of confinement of animals without food or water.
When police arrived at the wood-framed house at 5018 N. 30th Street, they found six children, ages 5 to 13 years old, clad in filthy clothes. Here’s what else they found:
Exposed electrical wires lining the structure and cords connecting two portable space heaters, one of which was covered with a blanket. The only running water came from the bathroom sink. The house has no kitchen, but a refrigerator held bags of rice and vegetables. Police also found only one mattress, and it was covered with dirty linen.
Outside, investigators found five neglected dogs in the yard.
Police said the children had not been going to school. It is unclear where the children were taken.
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– Casey Cora, Times staff writer