Five kids pulled from 'deplorable' Tampa home
TAMPA (FOX 13) - Two adults are under arrest and facing serious charges after police say they had five kids living with them in deplorable conditions - including roach and rat infestations, a bucket in lieu of a toilet, no electricity and holes in the ceiling.
Conditions inside the home on Powhatan Avenue East were "alarming," according to police. There was spoiled food, holes in the kids' rooms, and mold just about everywhere, police said.
The children taken from the home Monday range in age from 8 to 17.
Two adults were placed under arrest: Barbara Boone, 45, and Jose Colon, 65. Both face several charges, including child neglect, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and aggravated animal abuse.
The investigation started after DCF received an anonymous tip.
"Back on July 28, we got a warrant, we went to the house and what we saw was deplorable. It was pretty alarming, so what we did was arrange for the arrest of two adults from the house," offered police spokesman Steve Hegarty.
Both Colon and Boone remained in jail Tuesday.
An orange sign on the says the structure reads "unsafe" and the home has been condemned.