ROCK HILL, S.C. -- A Rock Hill couple is facing charges for the second time after their three young daughters were found living in what police called
horrible conditions.
Eyewitness News first reported the arrests of Shane and Jessica Styles in September of 2007. That's when two of their older children were sent home from school with what police called massive head lice.
Officers said they went to the family's home on South Stonewall Avenue and found it
crawling with bugs and littered dirt and trash. According to a police report, food was left out on counters and clothes were piled up everywhere.
"There was a
tremendous amount of insects, roaches, things like that, and the trash," said Rock Hill Police Lt. Brad Redfearn.
After the three girls, ages, 7, 5, and 1, were taken from the home in 2007, they went to stay with relatives in North Carolina. According to Assistant Solicitor Mindy Hervey, who prosecuted the case, the Department of Social Services ordered the couple to clean up their property and begin counseling classes.
After several visits from officials,
the home appeared clean and DSS united the family in spring of 2008. Shane and Jessica Styles pleaded guilty to charges against them and were given probation.
"There were many conditions on them," Hervey said. "You hate to see it happen again."
But Thursday, police charged the couple with unlawful child neglect again,
describing many of the same conditions in the home as before.
"Now we're back at the same residence, with the same people, and the same kids in these horrible conditions," Redfearn said.
The
front yard is strewn with toys and trash. Kitchen
garbage is visible, along with household junk, parts of furnishings and clothing.
"It's sad they would do that," said neighbor Chelsea Rash.
She said she’s seen the two older girls playing outside and was concerned about how they were living.
"You l
ost your kids once, now twice. You need to be at home with your kids," she said.
Shane and Jessica Styles are being held on $10,000 bond each. Their children are once again in DSS custody.
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