Children, puppies found in 'deplorable conditions' in home
REX, Ga. - A Clayton County couple was arrested after police said they found dead dogs in cages and children living in deplorable conditions at their home in Rex.
“The police were here and animal control, tragic situation what happened, but they good people. They good people,” said Orlando Bell, the next door neighbor to the home on Whitney Way.
Clayton County Police said animal control removed three dead dogs from the property. In a news release, police said two dead puppies were found dead in a cage and a dead adult dog was found elsewhere in the back yard. Police said the three canines had been starved to death. Investigators believe the adult dog had been dead between 25 to 50 days.
Police said the puppies were covered in so many fleas it was hard to determine what color they were.
“I know at one point they did have a lot of dogs but I just assumed that he was breeding them. They were mostly pits,” said Audria Riley, who lives across the street from the home.
Investigators said they also found deplorable conditions inside the house including floors littered with feces and urine and bags filled with garbage throughout the home and garage.
Clayton County Police said Division of Family and Children Services placed three children, ages 10, 7 and 3, in the care of a relative.
“I don’t know much about the kids any time I seen them they appeared to be well taken care of. It doesn’t seem like they were in danger or unhappy,” said Riley.
The residents identified by Clayton County Police as 33-year-old Ki-Kito Riki Townsend and 32-year-old Kristina Leigh Prince are each charged with three counts of cruelty to children in the first degree and three counts of animal cruelty.
“I hope the best for them as far as the kids because they’re the ones that have to deal with this,” said Riley.
As of late Tuesday night, Townsend and Prince were being held on $25,000 bond each.