19 kids found alone in filthy, hot Kentucky home

AP Graphics

(AP) BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Authorities say a man and a woman in Kentucky left 19 children unattended for a week in a sweltering, filthy home.

The children ranged from 8 months to 14 years old and were found Monday night in a small three-bedroom home near Bowling Green.

Warren County Sheriff's Detective Tim Robinson says the home was littered with dog feces and there was no air conditioning on a day when it reached 101 degrees.

He says Irving "Joe" Smith and Jackie Farah told a neighbor last week that they had a family emergency in Michigan and asked the neighbor to check on the kids.

Deputies said the children behaved as if they were often left alone. The pair told investigators that they plan to return to the area to speak with authorities.

[wizardlady]

With a neighbor like the one asked to help check on these kids who then calls in authorities....who needs an enemy?

That 14 yr old should be given a medal. If no one was hungry, ill or injured, then what and why should anyone cause trouble for these children. Not everyone gets the opportunity to live in a spanking clean domicile (mansion if you are a ROMNEY), have only one, two or no siblings to share life with, and can flippantly say how others should live their lives. Either help these kids and their parents or SHUT UP! (Having an AC donated would be great but then someone has to pay the power bill.)

Did anyone say if the animals were starving? Were these dogs hunting dogs or just pets? If they live in a rural setting, then these probably are 'yard dogs' kept to announce an intruder.....a common practice in the South.

[vmpa]

Nothing prevents you from picking up dog poo from the floor. I grew up dirt poor but never dirty. No trash in the yard, no animal poo in the house. Poor doesn't equal filthy.

[saturn05]

It was over 100 degrees and someone here said they could have gone outside. Really! A 14 year old to watch 18 kids, really! the adults should be charged on numerous accounts. As far as the media not giving us all of the info, what else do you need to know about this. The adults made a terrible decision that put kids at risk. I hope they face jail time.

[lillyhorton]

Even if the parents were there they still wouldn't have AC. It isn't a crime not to have AC. They didn't mention a lack of food so they must have had plenty. The 14 year old is old enough to babysit so leaving her/him in charge is not a crime. Telephone? was there a methode to call for emergency sevices if things went wrong? Probably but even so it isn't a crime not to have a phone. Dog feces? Damn kids forgot to let the dog out. Happens. As bad as it sounds I bet the group was not in danger and the media is exagerating the conditions.

[tafhdyd]

If everything is hunky dory I am just curious if you found a silver lining in the Sandusky case or the Caylee Anthony case also?

[Roselense]

Got to agree lillyhorton. I'm sure the kids had sense enough to go outside when it got too hot.

[gnimelf1968]

When are all you people going to realize you NEVER get all of the facts. Media sensationalizes everything. Even if they have all the facts they want it to sound horrible so you read it. Grow yourself a brain and think for yourselves for a change.

[taxed01]

I'll bet the tax dollars are flowing to that fine couple.

[linfinster]

lol YUP! Possibly both are on SSI, cash, food and housing assistance.

[ThomasSense]

The Bowling Green newspaper said: Warren County Sheriff's Office deputies removed the children, nine dogs and a cat from 130 Kingston Way at just after 11:30 p.m. Monday, according to a release from the sheriff's office.

[Roselense]

The only thing I see extraordinary about that info is that one cat lives with nine dogs!

[ThomasSense]

6 kids were cousins that were visiting.
http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/local/children-removed-from-home/article_db88e1b0-c52e-11e1-b11d-0019bb2963f4.html

[aChangeOfIdeas]

where did the article say they were poor?

[CoachHouser]

And where did it say there were 6 dogs?
And where did it say all those kids belonged to..... anyone?

[smittyc]

Find the article quite upsetting. Hopefully social services and law enforcement will recognize these parents need direction and counseling. The willingness on the parents part to attempt to assume responsibility for 19 children and 6 dogs with no apparent outside help indicates they are generous and compassionate although obviously not always responsible. The article actually reminds me of our federal government which has sent over 300 billion in direct foreign aid overseas in the last three years and over a trillion in indirect foreign aid in the last three years while our own country is falling apart. Both the parents with 19 kids and six dogs and the federal government with millions unemployed, and homeless fail to recognize they have an emergency everyday at home.

[moretruthnow]

The poor need access to birth control so that they do not have so many children that they can't properly care for. These people are not good parents and that is very clear. I feel sorry for these poor children but also for the woman who got pregnant so many times.