Indiana Mom Charged With Neglect Over Filthy House in Anderson

Crystal Dawn Winchester Neglect of a Dependent

By Joel Brussels , Parent Herald Nov 30, 12:51 pm

Photo: (Photo : Scott Olson/Getty Images)

When officers entered Crystal Dawn Winchester's home in Anderson, Indiana last October, the smell of pet feces and urine was so overwhelming that they could only bear to spend a couple of minutes inside the residence.

The conditions inside the home housing three kids ages 11, 14 and 15 led to charges against their 42-year-old mother. Cops arrested Winchester on three counts of neglect of a dependent.

One of Winchester's kids called their grandmother on October 28 to report their living conditions. She in turn called the police to check on her grandchildren, according to Fox59.

Officers were shocked when they arrived at Winchester's home as they found what they called deplorable living conditions inside the residence. Sheriff's deputy Caitlin Morency, whose account appeared in the probable cause affidavit, wrote that the smell of feces and urine was noticeable before they stepped onto the porch.

Air quality inside Winchester's home can cause adverse health conditions

Morency added that she immediately became nauseous and lightheaded due to the smell and that she had to step outside less than a couple minutes after entering Winchester's home.

According to the East Madison Fire Territory, testing of the air quality inside Winchester's home found 5 parts per million of ammonia. That number was capable of causing adverse health conditions if a person spent a long enough time there or resided there.

The children said during interviews with police that two German shepherds lived at the house and had a litter of puppies. Several cats also lived inside the home, with the kids adding that their mother rarely cleaned the house and that it was up to them to do the cleaning. The children said that sometimes, they were forced to clean as punishment.

The kids said their mom was barely home at night and Winchester usually came back late after they had gone to sleep. The children complained about the lack of heat inside the house and they told investigators that their mother wanted to get the heat fixed but did not want anyone to come inside before they cleaned the home, given the house's current state.

Winchester charged with obstruction of justice

The kids also expressed concerns about the lack of food at home. They told cops they would not be eating on the regular without their grandmother's help. Winchester said during an interview with the police that she does not ever remember there being a time that her children told her there was not enough food for them to eat at the house.

Winchester also pushed back at her kids' claims that she stayed out all night. She stated that she stayed almost every night at the house. The mom attempted to shift the blame to her spouse for the filthy conditions inside the house, saying that he refused to get rid of the dogs or clean them up.

Court records stated that the judge issued an order barring Winchester from contacting her kids. The mom has also been charged with obstruction of justice, according to the Herald Bulletin.