'I opened the bathroom door and was so sickened by what I saw'
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KELSO, Wash. – When police officer Sarah Hoffman arrived at a Kelso home, she had no idea what horrors she would find inside.
She was checking on a domestic dispute. When she entered the home, Hoffman said she saw a woman who was clearly drunk, and two children – ages two and seven – who were living in filth.
Those children are now in protective custody.
“I was sick to my stomach watching [the girl] walk from the bedroom through the feces and throughout the house in bare feet,” Hoffman wrote in her police report.
The children’s father, Danny Wannamaker, called police after getting in a fight with their mother, Nicole Jacobs, police said. Wannamaker was arrested and charged with assault.
Neither parent has been charged with additional crimes at this time, pending an investigation by Child Protective Services.
Hoffman said she was overwhelmed by the odor of human waste.
“I opened the bathroom door and was so sickened by what I saw,” she said. “There were days, perhaps weeks worth of feces in the bathtub. The toilet was clogged and filled with feces.”
The rest of the house was littered with dirty clothes, toys dishes and silverware caked with food.
The 7-year-old boy was sleeping in a recliner. He had no bed.
“I’ve been to many filthy houses since becoming a police officer and this is one of the most disgusting residences I have ever been in,” Hoffman said.
When the children were taken by Child Protective Services, there weren’t any clean clothes in the house for them to wear.
Neighbors were shocked when they heard about the deplorable conditions. They said this house was on their radar, however, because there were a lot of visitors who stopped by during the nights.
“When you have feces running all over the house basically, and the kids running around in that, that’s pretty disgusting,” said neighbor Shawna Spear.
I agree its filthy but if your gonna take kids away for filthy homes you better invest in some patty wagons for kids cause there's alot of people who live this way that don't even drink! there just plain slobbs! we're the kids beaten!
I am glad they took the kids that is sick!
As a parent you are by law to supply: Food, Shelter and Clothing for children under 18. The law does not dictate what type of food - healthy or not - does not specify what type of Shelter nor Clothing.
Fairly broad without specifics. This case came to the attention of authorities because of Domestic Violence.
Children are removed from those situations - always. In this case it became apparent from living conditions the children were at risk of neglect and health endangerment. Some people just should not have children.
@colorowdy ---and with the great history of the European Christian Church, (y)our kind must (co)admit the orphans! And, they grow up oftentimes better after the men in black rescue them.
I apologize for ever debating with you sister! Our kind only pull them out of danger on occasion, Your kind keeps them from harm 24/7. The GLORY goes to you, not me.
there should not be a pending investigation. PERIOD! these children have lived in this for their whole lives and there should be enough pictures (evidence) to prosecute both parents. the father knew how his children were living and did nothing to help his kids. the mother was obviously a drunk and has no business having children. both parents need to lose all rights to thier children and should be court ordered to attend parenting classes and the mother to AA meetings and/or rehabilitation center for further help with her addictions to alcohol...Â
It's a whole different ball game in Lane County. We've seen children initially taken from homes like this, only to have them placed back in the same environment after Mommie takes a 3 week course and had her file padded by the very people sent to protect the children in the first place. When an 8 year old boy was placed with us temporarily and we took him to the hospital because of cigarette burn marks on his legs, Lane County was furious with us for notifying the police.  They made it clear to us that the child is secondary, the family "unit" comes first.