MITCHELL — A Mitchell woman was arrested on September 7th after police investigating a 911 open-line call reported finding what they described as unsafe and unsanitary conditions inside a home where three juveniles and several animals were living.
Jennifer Wheeler, 46, and Ricky L. Whitaker Jr., 44, both of Mitchell, are facing three counts of neglect of a dependent, a Level 6 felony, and one count of neglect of an animal, a Class A misdemeanor, according to a probable cause affidavit filed by Mitchell Police Detective Cody Grogan.
The allegations stem from an investigation that began September 7th when Officer Grogan responded to the South Meridian Road residence following a 911 open-line call.
According to the affidavit, Grogan initially spoke with Ricky Whitaker and one of the juveniles in a garage. Whitaker reportedly told police he and Wheeler had been arguing about another juvenile who had left the residence with his girlfriend and her parents. The juvenile had reportedly been grounded following an altercation with his mother the previous day.
While speaking with Whitaker, police encountered another juvenile, who told Officer Grogan she did not feel safe in the home because of the arguing. Officers Grogan reported noticing a strong body odor coming from the juvenile, as well as a separate foul odor coming from inside the residence.
The affidavit states the juvenile was wearing dirty, tattered clothing and appeared to have mucus-like stains on the front of the shirt.
Police later went to the home of the juvenile’s girlfriend’s parents, where another juvenile had been taken. The parents reportedly told police they had picked up the juvenile because he did not feel safe at the South Meridian Road residence and because there was no food available at the home.
The juvenile reportedly told police that physical incidents involving Whitaker had occurred in the past, although he did not report having current injuries.
Police contacted the Indiana Department of Child Services and requested an immediate response. A Lawrence County sheriff’s deputy also responded because Whitaker was reportedly armed and police had received information about alleged threats involving a firearm.
During the investigation, Whitaker reportedly acknowledged that Wheeler and the juvenile had been involved in pushing and shoving incidents approximately three months earlier.
The female juvenile also reportedly told police that Whitaker had slapped her in the face approximately two months earlier. She further told police that it had been about a week since she had last showered and that she was only permitted to shower on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. According to the affidavit, she said those restrictions were Whitaker’s rules. Whitaker reportedly told police the juvenile was responsible for not showering.
Police describe conditions inside the home
According to the affidavit, a DCS family case manager who entered the residence photographed conditions inside the home, including rotten and moldy food in a broken refrigerator, animal feces on floors, and rodent feces.
Police later received permission from the male and Whitaker to enter the residence.
Officer Grogan described a foul odor inside the home and reported finding dirty dishes throughout the kitchen, piles of dirty clothing, and rotten potatoes with sprouts growing from them.
In the female juvenile’s bedroom, police reportedly observed food crumbs and dirt covering much of the bedding, apparent animal feces on the floor, and apparent rodent feces on the interior window frame.
The refrigerator was reportedly warm and contained multiple items of rotten and moldy food.
Police also described the sleeping conditions in the juveniles’ bedrooms. One juvenile was reportedly sleeping on a deteriorated mattress on the floor with a hole exposing a metal spring. Police said the room contained pieces of mattress foam, debris, apparent animal feces, trash and dirty dishes.
In another bedroom, police reportedly found a severely deteriorated mattress with multiple holes and exposed metal springs. No blankets, sheets, or pillows were reportedly observed on the mattress. Police also reported finding what appeared to be a pile of animal feces near the wall.
The affidavit further states that police observed exposed wiring from a ceiling light fixture, apparent rodent access through a hole in a living-room wall, animal feces on the living-room floor, and significant dust buildup on an HVAC air intake.
Dog reportedly found with sores and fleas
The investigation also led to an animal-neglect allegation.
According to Officer Grogan, two small dogs were inside the residence. He observed what he described as a large number of sores on the back of a light-brown dog, along with numerous fleas in the animal’s fur.
When asked whether the dog had flea medication, the male reportedly said it did. Whitaker also reportedly told police that all four of her dogs had fleas.
Officer Grogan additionally reported that the dog’s nails were extremely long and curling backward toward its paws.
After consulting with a Lawrence County deputy prosecutor and DCS personnel, police determined they had probable cause to make arrests, according to the affidavit.
Wheeler and Whitaker were arrested and transported to the Lawrence County Jail without incident.
During a search of Whitaker following his arrest, Grogan reported finding three empty containers labeled as Exotic THCA Flower, a cannabis vape, and a smoking device containing burnt residue. The affidavit states that police field-tested the burnt residue and the vape, with both tests reportedly producing positive results for marijuana. The items were secured and submitted for further testing by the Indiana State Police Laboratory.
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This article is based on the information provided in the probable cause affidavit and does not represent a final determination of guilt or innocence.
