Squalor leads to arrest of Poplar Bluff couple

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- An investigation into the illegal sale and storage of animals Saturday morning resulted in the arrest of a Poplar Bluff couple whose toddlers were living in what authorities described as deplorable conditions.

Arrested on suspicion of two counts of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child were William Joseph Dugger, 27, and his wife, Heather M. Dugger, 22.

The two were arrested after 10 a.m. Saturday at their home in the 1700 block of Illinois Avenue.

"They were saying they were running a pet rescue and sending animals all over the U.S.," said Capt. Donnie Trout. "They had a mini-pinscher that became aggressive with one of the children, and that dog wound up dead."

A man on the East Coast contacted the police about Duggers.

"He knew they were scam artists," Trout said. "He already had been taken by them."

The investigation began when police attempted to make contact with the couple in their federal housing unit.

Police saw two young children inside, wearing diapers that were wet and dirty.

"The children were also observed having red marks on them that appeared to be some type of infection or medical issue," Trout said.

The living room appeared to be dirty, with old food items and spill marks on the floor and a dirty mattress. A couple of bags of dishes were found outside the back door as well.

Trash cans were found to be overflowing with dirty diapers, paper plates and food items. The bathroom was "extremely dirty," one of the officers said, with a puppy being kept in the bathtub. It contained urine and feces stains and odors.

"When we find something like this, we will not put up with it," police chief Danny Whitely said. "We will take care of the kids, and, hopefully, put (the responsible parties) in prison."

The Duggers were arrested, booked at the Butler County Jail and released.