The Great Smoky Mountain Journal
Source:
Tuesday, January 01, 2019 02:42 PM
Kentucky Officials: Three Children Removed From Unsanitary Conditions In Whitley County
The Whitley County Sheriff's Office went to a home on Reverend Gene Young Road after a concerned individual said the children living there were in danger.
Officials said the home was in a "generally unsanitary condition". There was no running water, and roaches were in and around food.
The three children, ages four, three, and one, were removed by social services.
Heather Clark, 30, and Carlton D. Douglas, 19, were arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of minors.
Officials said Clark and Douglass are not the parents of any of the children. The two were, however, responsible for the children's care at the time.
“You hear the phrase, ‘If you see something, say something.’ Well, we do something. I’m pleased this individual felt comfortable enough to share their concern and confidence that we would investigate their suspicions," said Whitley County Sheriff Colan J. Harrell. "Improving law enforcement and community connections has been a focus of mine, and here you can only imagine what it would be like with children of that age in a place without water hadn’t been protected by a concerned citizen.”
