Sarasota Couple Arrested, Charged With Child Neglect
A Sarasota couple has been arrested following a welfare investigation of their home that showed five children living in deplorable conditions.
Police officers say the couple is being charged with five counts of child neglect without great bodily harm. Amanda L. Dean, 34, and Joseph P. Dromeshauser, III, 34, were living with a 17-year-old boy, 12-year-old boy, 10-year-old bot, 2-year-old boy and 11-month-old girl.
Sarasota police reported to the house on November 28th for a welfare check. During their investigation the officers determined the house was not suitable for anyone to live in.
Among the deplorable living conditions, officers noted animal and human feces on the floor, multiple pill containers left open within children’s reach, trash, broken glass, rotting food and a strong smell of urine throughout the whole house.
Near the empty pill containers was a pipe used to smoke crack cocaine in plain view. Dromeshauser was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia alongside the child neglect charges.
Officers said during their walkthrough they also found that the house had no running water or way to dispose of human waste.
“The conditions in this home were the worst I’ve ever seen,” said Detective Megan Buck, Criminal Investigations Division, to ABC Action News.
“No child or adult should have to live in conditions like this. Someone knew something wasn’t right with this family and called law enforcement. I’m thankful they did,” said Detective Buck, said to ABC Action News.
During the check officers were unable to speak with Dean since she was not around. About an hour after officers arrived for the check Dean was located hiding in a closet. She told officers she was scared to go to jail.
The couple is being held at the Sarasota County Jail and the children have been removed from the house.
