Lang
12/20/24
A Washington County couple has been arrested after children were found living in unsanitary conditions.
According to a news release from the Washington Police Department, a search warrant was executed at 615 South Marion Avenue on Friday afternoon. Officers removed two toddlers from the home and summoned EMS to evaluate and transport them to the Washington County Hospital. Two additional children were also removed from the home. All four children have been placed in the care of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.
Inside the residence, officers located 24 dogs, one deceased dog, one deceased bearded dragon, one deceased hedgehog and four cats. The interior of the home had animal feces and urine on the floors. Officers located trash piled waist high in the basement of the home and were told that a pipe had burst earlier in the year, causing sewage to seep into the basement.
Officers arrested and charged 35-year-old John Zaiss and 37-year-old Heather Egbert with four counts each of Child Endangerment. If convicted on all charges, they could each face up to eight years in jail.
The animals were removed with the assistance of City of Washington staff and PAWS and More Animal Shelter.