Two parents are now behind bars for housing two children in unsanitary conditions in South Stafford with narcotics scattered throughout the room.

On May 16th at approximately 11:44 a.m. Deputy B.W. Gildea responded to the Clarion Inn, located at 564 Warrenton Road, for a welfare check. Staff advised there had been a foul odor emanating from a hotel room, and the children within it appeared disheveled.

Deputy Gildea made contact with the 24-year-old mother who attempted to convince him and staff that the room was not that dirty. That would clearly not be the case, as for what Deputy Gildea discovered could only be described as “absolutely deplorable”. The room was filled with insects and waste, it had an extremely foul odor emanating from it, and nearly every surface was covered in ash or soiled by an unknown liquid. If that was not bad enough, suspected controlled substances were located in plain view all around the room, including near children’s toys and an open box of cereal.

It was discovered two adults, two children under age five, and two dogs had been living in the room for approximately a month without cleaning it. The mother was arrested for two counts of felony child endangerment, as well as, possession of controlled substances. Deputy Gildea also obtained the same warrants for the father, who was not on scene at the time.

Later in the day, the father returned to the scene, and Deputy M.A. Pearce served him on his warrants. Both were held at Rappahannock Regional Jail without bond. Both dogs were taken in by Animal Control. The children were placed into the care of family members, and Child Protective Services will be conducting an investigation.

Thank you to the reporting party for calling in a welfare check.