Neosho children removed by state, mother faces felony charge

Three boys, ages 7, 5 and 1 were removed from a Neosho trailer after a Newton County Sheriff's Office investigation found feces in every room, moldy and expired food, crawling cockroaches and numerous animals.

The children's mother, Ashlea Marie Shaffer (DOB 1997) has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child.

The conditions of the trailer during the August inspection were detailed in the probable cause statement:

Every room of the three-bedroom trailer was covered in feces, dirt, insects, cockroaches, and sounds of rodents running in the back rooms. There were cats, kittens, and dogs running amuck. 

The back bedrooms were unlivable, and had household items thrown around, making it difficult to open doorways and even walk into the rooms. 

The back bedroom had a bunny cage, which had contained a dead bunny inside of it for an extended period of time, until Vl took it upon himself to bury it in the backyard. 

Inside the refrigerator, Tackett observed bare shelves, molded food, and expired food. With neglect of hygiene, food and minimal standard care for the children. Tackett believed children were in an immediate danger of care and neglect while in custody of their mother Ashlea Marie Shaffer. All children were taken into state custody. Photos were taken of the residence along with bodycam worn video.