BROWNSBURG — A woman is charged with letting her 8-year-old son live in a home with "deplorable" conditions where she kept dead animals and made the boy clean up feces and other filth, court documents show.
Jennifer Lair, 32, made the boy clean up the mess because "her back hurts" and threatened to "whoop" the child if he didn't, according to a probable cause affidavit filed June 2.
Lair also kept the corpses of several dogs that died while staying with her. At one point she had a total of six dogs and one cat, according to the affidavit.
Police, Animal Control and DCS went to Lair's Brownsburg home May 16 after being notified DCS was investigating a report of "deplorable living conditions" there. A dead dog was later found inside the home.
"The home was also in disarray and filthy. It did not appear to be suitable for living let alone a child," the affidavit states.
Lair was not supposed to have any animals when police searched her home because of pending animal cruelty charges in a separate case.
Police met with Lair May 22, when they discovered there was another dead dog inside a cage in her car. Lair initially said the animal died the night prior but later admitted it died two days prior after she left it in her car on a hot day, according to the affidavit.
Police were later told the dog found dead inside Lair's home had been attacked by other dogs. They were also told Lair had previously thrown a dead puppy into the trash shortly after adopting it, the affidavit alleges.
Lair is charged with two felony counts of neglect of a dependent and two misdemeanor counts of cruelty to an animal.
She's scheduled to appear for a pretrial conference July 14 at Morgan Superior Court.
Last July, she was charged with one count of neglect of a dependent and seven counts of cruelty to an animal in a separate case, also involving dead animals.
-
Police warn of stiffer punishments for violent crime offenders
Police have arrested three teenagers accused of breaking into more than 200 cars in Indianapolis and Fishers, and investigators say federal charges could follow.
Ben's BBQ Shack moving to Westfield location near Grand Park
Ben's BBQ Shack, a Hamilton County favorite, has officially announced its business is moving to a new location coming to Westfield near Grand Park.
State approves $15M for Miami County immigration detention center
The State Budget Committee has approved more than $15 million to help prepare the Miami County Correctional Facility, dubbed the "Speedway Slammer," to serve as a federal immigration detention center.
Body recovered from pond near Castleton, IMPD investigating
IMPD has confirmed a death investigation is underway after a body was recovered from a pond near Castleton at 82nd Street and Craig Avenue Wednesday morning.
