Wanna guess? 8 adults, 4 kids and 45 animals in one home

**Dakota Valkyrie** · September 30th, 2009, 03:10 PM

Extremely poor. Terrible. Not livable. They are simple words police used to describe a complex situation in an Elkhart home, where officers found at least 12 people- — including four children — living, along with at least 45 different animals.

Police discovered the situation late Tuesday afternoon in the 500 block of West Jefferson Street after neighbors called to complain.

"The complaint was that there was a pit bull that was tied too close to the property line, and was not allowing access to the neighbors and the alley area," said Elkhart Police Corporal Dennis Russell, who serves as the department's Animal Control Officer.

When Russell looked inside, he found something much more shocking.

"There was eight adults in the house with four children, and what I would call terrible conditions. Feces, cockroaches, carpet saturated with animal urine, and a strong ammonia smell from the house itself," Russell said.

"I would call the conditions extremely poor," said Humane Society of Elkhart County Animal Control Officer Michael O'Hara. "There is insect infestation, trash, animals running loose.

"It's not a livable condition," added Russell.

But, there were 12 people living inside, along with dozens more animals. At least 35 of the animals are dogs. Most others are cats.
[...]

All four children are now staying with relatives. Three of the eight tenants in the home were also arrested on unrelated outstanding warrants.

No other charges were filed, but Russell says it's possible both animal cruelty and child neglect charges will be pending.
[...]

"The conditions of the house were ridiculous when we moved in," said Amy Bachman, whose children, ages 3, 7, and 10, were removed from the home by CPS. "This is not a puppy mill. We gave these animals a loving home. These are not just dogs. They're my babies."
[...]

Aside from fleas most are in fairly good health, said O'Hara, though several did show evidence of older, untreated injuries.

"It would appear they had not been to the vet for care in quite some time," said O'Hara.
[...]

Police and child protective services agreed, the home they toured Tuesday was no place for four children to be growing up.

Seabolt didn't argue otherwise.

"No. No," she repeated through tears, when asked if she disagreed with the agency's conclusion. "We had a lot of animals in there. We were trying to get rid of the animals."

"But, at the same time, like I explained to the CPS lady, what choice did I have?" continued Seabolt. "If I didn't have a place for my daughter, if I didn't have a roof over my head, I would have lost her. You know, you can't live out on the street with a child. So, what choice did I have?"
[...]

Failing to reach out for help, Seabold says, is her one big regret.

"I do regret that we let it get that far out of control with the animals," she said.
[...]

http://www.wsbt.com/news/local/62751822.html
Larger images at: http://www.wsbt.com/news/local/62875917.html

**skeptik** · September 30th, 2009, 03:11 PM

Wait. Is this in FL? I think this may be my neighbor.

**Awhell** · September 30th, 2009, 03:16 PM

Oh, those poor kids...those poor animals...those poor neighbors.
I pity the neighbors, because if you have never smelled a place like that once they start to clean it out and things get stirred up, believe me, you are lucky. The neighbors will be able to smell all that filth crystal clear for at least a week.
Just sick. Although the more I read here, the cleaner my house gets. With every single story, I find myself scrubbing something, almost like a fugue.

**Rawrehz** · September 30th, 2009, 03:21 PM

**penelopejo** · September 30th, 2009, 03:28 PM

You know DV, that's not the worst I've seen. And the worst I've seen only have 4 people in the home.

but still, YUCK!!!!

**Jessiesgirl1108** · September 30th, 2009, 03:40 PM

8 adults...8 adults in that house and not one of them could pick up some trash or do a load of laundry. That is just crazy. Besides, where in the hell did these 8 adults, 4 kids and all those animals stay in the house, it doesn't look like there would enough for 2 people with all that mess...

**paranoiaqueen** · September 30th, 2009, 04:03 PM

Oh, cry me a river lady. If you had to live there with your daughter your dumbass could have cleaned it up. Where we lived before, we had a drug house on one side of us. Best believe I was on the phone to various agencies because they had kids there. Took CPS five months to move on them and thats because there were a lot of people(neighbors)calling them. When they finally removed the children and animals, including 3 cats, 3 dogs, and snakes, they condemned the house. They had been living there without electricity for at least 3 months. We actually got to go inside the house and it looked just like this. Filthy. Animals are cleaner than this.

**thebooblady** · September 30th, 2009, 04:12 PM

Misty Seabolt: http://www.myspace.com/dolphinwoman1974

Amy Bachman: http://www.myspace.com/fallenangelbaby05

**penelopejo** · September 30th, 2009, 04:16 PM

Originally Posted by thebooblady

Misty Seabolt: http://www.myspace.com/dolphinwoman1974

Amy Bachman: http://www.myspace.com/fallenangelbaby05

HAHAHAH, Amy has a truth box!!!

**skeptik** · September 30th, 2009, 04:16 PM

Why are all the people I want to stomp the guts out of named MISTY? You know, they have done a tremendous disservice to that pony.

**skeptik** · September 30th, 2009, 04:20 PM

OMG-- she has a "truth box." I guess that means you can tell her to clean her fucking house anonymously?

**Jessiesgirl1108** · September 30th, 2009, 04:48 PM

Originally Posted by paranoiaqueen

Oh, cry me a river lady. If you had to live there with your daughter your dumbass could have cleaned it up. Where we lived before, we had a drug house on one side of us. Best believe I was on the phone to various agencies because they had kids there. Took CPS five months to move on them and thats because there were a lot of people(neighbors)calling them. When they finally removed the children and animals, including 3 cats, 3 dogs, and snakes, they condemned the house. They had been living there without electricity for at least 3 months. We actually got to go inside the house and it looked just like this. Filthy. Animals are cleaner than this.

Hey, I had some crack heads living next to me a couple years back. Sad thing, they were pretty normal when we moved in and then to just watch them deteriorate they way they did. They also had kids, would see them locked out of the house, little girl never in anything but a diaper. I called on them, not CPS but the cops. Figure I had more of a chance of getting them busted on the drugs then having CPS get involved since other neighbors had made complaints about the kids before and nothing got done. They did eventually take the kids away, only difference is that when you went in their house there was nothing...no real clothes for the kids, no food, barely any furniture, just empty, guess they sold everything for the drugs. Good news is that I ran into the young boy months later and learned that both him and his sister were adopted into a loving family!

**biteme** · September 30th, 2009, 05:00 PM

CPS at their loser best, probably still investigating and writing visit reports not realizing no one's there.

**paranoiaqueen** · September 30th, 2009, 05:09 PM

Hi Jessiesgirl. Its funny that you say that your neighbors started off normal and then just degenerated. I heard from my other neighbors that the same thing had happened to the woman who lived next door to us. They had lived there 2 years before we moved in and apparently after her husband went to jail, she had a new guy(drug dealer) move in. It was all down hill from there. Yeah I called the cops, CPS, pge, section 8, anyone who I could think of. It got so bad, me and her were going toe to toe yelling at each other because her kids were running around the neighborhood unsupervised breaking things. Someone even broke the windshield of my husbands car, though we couldnt prove it was them. It was hell for five months.

**Awhell** · September 30th, 2009, 05:10 PM

Myspace for Thomas Seabolt: http://www.myspace.com/465053047
He's no prize either. Then Myspace quit on me, so I didn't check the other two that were arrested.

Incredible, none of them have pictures taken inside their own house. I wonder why? Oh, yeah, wait, the dangerous level of filth that they subjected their children to, that's right.

**Pene784** · September 30th, 2009, 05:45 PM

I understand that perhaps you had to have a place to live with your child. I understand that perhaps you got in over head with animals that you were trying to help. What I do NOT understand is why you could not take out the garbage or at least put the garbage in bags. I bet these poor children had to go to school smelling like a cross between a dumpster and an outhouse.

**Awhell** · September 30th, 2009, 06:57 PM

Hell, if they took in all the bottles they could have rented a kennel.

**Sister Iroz** · September 30th, 2009, 08:05 PM

We gave these animals a loving home. These are not just dogs. They're my babies."
[...]

Aside from fleas most are in fairly good health, said O'Hara,

Sounds as if she treated her animals better than her children. Because she should have picked up the trash and cleaned her house for her children.

**hotcnymom** · September 30th, 2009, 09:11 PM

This past week at my house has been crappy,Everyone is sick.I felt bad cause my house is a mess.Now I do not feel so bad.

**smallwonder4** · October 3rd, 2009, 11:15 AM

Are those empty shelves in the picture sheilded with plastic while there's crap all over the floor?? I have an idea: pick the stuff that isn't trash up, put it on the shelf, and clean up all the bugs, food, and waste off the floor! I'm not a neat freak, but how do you even move in all that?! I'm surprised they didn't misplace any of their little dogs or kids in all that!

**dawnmpeters** · October 3rd, 2009, 02:51 PM

this was under his blog:thomas seabolt

October 2, 2009 - Friday
news story about 500 jefferson St.
i ask everyone to add to this as you want and place your comment as you want as i respect everyone's opinion.

the way the elkhart truth is plastering this story is the work of a true hack that knows nothing about the truth......if they did they would have gotten both sides of the story not just the one they got from the cops.....i know both sides of the story because i am one of the people involved in it.....my house did not look like that untill the cops came in and trashed it because we did have a lot of dogs...however it was not 40 like the elkhart truth would like you to belive.....the reporter didn't bother to get the real number they just made it up.....out of all the dogs there 8 of the ones taken were pups and we had a home for them.... i admit my house wasn't the cleanest of all houses but it looked nothing like what the pictures showed.....those pics were taken after the cops came in tore through the house looking for gods knows what and then said that was how we were liveing...as i say to everyone there are always 2 sides to every story....and the elkhart truth only got one side and ran with it...for those that like to see one side and then comment on how i am i say FUCK YOU....get both sides before you judge anyone. most of the dogs we had we were waiting on people to come get....they say it is neglect to put dogs in cages and how it is inhumane to do so then EXPLAIN how it is RIGHT for the humane sociaity to do so and then kill them when they can't find homes for them because no one in todays economy can afford to pay $100 to adopt them.....we were giveing them away for FREE!!!! and trying to make sure they went to good homes! yes the dogs did have acidents on the carpet as will any animal but we cleaned it up....not to mention code enforcement told us the same day that they were trying to get that house condemed for the past 3 years but we got into the house before they could so they held off on it....in todays economy anyone that isn't makeing 60k a year is more than likely single or living with family as we were...and yes our house might have been a bit messy but we have 4 KIDS what house with 4 kids isn't going to be!!!! so i say again before you judge someone on a news story make sure it has BOTH sides if it doesn't don't put your 2 cents in because you are just going to look like an ASS to the whole world especially if it is on the net!!!! please post this on any blog or msg board to spread what i have said this is the true story. and please let it be known that our main concern is getting our children back....the one other thing i would like to do is let it be known i am not upset with cps for doing their job however we were trying to get out of that house but in todays economy it is hard to move! that is why more people are liveing with family

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?f...ogId=512682658

**skeptik** · October 3rd, 2009, 03:11 PM

Thomas--

Less typing, more cleaning.

**thebooblady** · October 3rd, 2009, 05:53 PM

Well, I don't have 4 kids. We have 3 and I know how destroyed my house can get in one day. That is why I clean the house from top to bottom 1-2 times a week and maintain it the rest of the days. That way it doesn't get disgusting and overwhelming. These idiots need to try that.

**Dakota Valkyrie** · October 3rd, 2009, 06:07 PM

Originally Posted by dawnmpeters

this was under his blog:thomas seabolt

...my house did not look like that untill the cops came in and trashed it...

Good find, dawn.

Where did the cops get all the trash/shit to stage that picture? They cleaned up the rest of the house and put it all in one room? Anyone who believes that has a (or 2) screw loose.

Go look at the larger versions of the pics (linked at first post). The cops must have run over to the neighbors and pulled the trash, too.

**malq** · October 3rd, 2009, 06:12 PM

Q[.if they did they would have gotten both sides of the story not just the one they got from the cops.....i know both sides of the story because i am one of the people involved in it.....my house did not look like that untill the cops came in and trashed it because we did have a lot of dogs...however it was not 40 like the elkhart truth would like you to belive.....the reporter didn't bother to get the real number they just made it up.....out of all the dogs there 8 of the ones taken were pups and we had a home for them.... i admit my house wasn't the cleanest of all houses but it looked nothing like what the pictures showed.....those pics were taken after the cops came in tore through the house looking for gods knows what and then said that was how we were liveing...as i say to everyone there are always 2 sides to every story....and the elkhart truth only got one side and ran with it]EQ

Ok Lady/Dude I am going to side with you partially on this one. I think you are sloppy, but it is probably true that you got screwed by the cops tearing the place up and the media representing you incorrectly. I know what its like to have your place raided, and it doesn't look much different than that.
Looking at those pics closely I am sure that was done mostly by the cops.
I am going to your blog to invite you over here to give your side.

edit, here is what I dropped on the blog

Hello
I would like to invite to the Dreamin' Demon to discuss your side of the story. We are having a discussion about you and I sided with you on the raid and the media blowing it out of proportion.
Please visit us and you can register for free to comment.
Your story is here.
http://www.dreamindemon.com/forums/s...599#post301599

**mae** · October 3rd, 2009, 10:11 PM

Dakota, I wondered the same thing. Where was all that trash before it was all over the place?

Originally Posted by smallwonder4

Are those empty shelves in the picture sheilded with plastic while there's crap all over the floor?? I have an idea: pick the stuff that isn't trash up, put it on the shelf, and clean up all the bugs, food, and waste off the floor! I'm not a neat freak, but how do you even move in all that?! I'm surprised they didn't misplace any of their little dogs or kids in all that!

I thought it was a mattress on its side.

Hoarding is a major problem, and I cannot knock it. But when kids are involved, you have to seek help. It's not fair to do that to them.

**Chaindrive** · October 3rd, 2009, 11:00 PM

I have one dog (large) and 6 cats inside.

I run around this house barefoot always, even in the winter. If my bare foot TOUCHES something hard I'm all over it with the vacuum.

If my house looked like that I'd kill myself.

**thebooblady** · October 3rd, 2009, 11:09 PM

I think that Thomas is a liar. Why would animal control be on the news exagerrating the number of animals they claim lived there to be 45? Why does Thomas not mention the cats, the cockroaches, smell of amonnia, and general nastiness? I can understand a house being messy from all those people and animals, but theirs was DIRTY. He says the animals had accidents. If an animal has an accident, you use a special cleaner meant to get that smell out. If you don't, not only will the animal continue to piss in your home..the home will smell like piss. I also don't buy the that the conditions were caused by the police. You can see in the pics that the mess is JUNK. There is no reason to have junk laying around yuor house, especially when youhave 12 people and 45 animals living in it. I hope Thomas can give a better excuse.

**skeptik** · October 4th, 2009, 09:32 AM

There are things worse then euthanasia, in response to Thomas's rant about the pound putting animals down. The way to end that is not by placing intact animals in more homes for free or cheap. What do you think that accomplishes other than more unwanted animals?

**mdyan3934** · October 17th, 2009, 02:30 PM

all the trash came from trash bags the cops riped open and riffled through.....it costs $10 per additional bag of trahs to have the trash guy pick it up if it's not in the barrel they provide.....if you haven't guessed yet most of the people liveing in that house are disabled and can't work so money is tight and if you put your trash bags out side not in a contaner animals get into it then you have cops on you to get it cleaned up and you can't burn trash in the city limits.