Probable cause: Joplin family members forced autistic child to sleep in dog kennel

Four members of a family that allegedly kept an autistic 12-year-old girl locked in a kennel every night for two years are being held without bond after being charged Monday with two felony counts of child abuse or neglect.

During the investigation, the Joplin Police Department came across 83 animals, including dogs, cats, rabbits and a pig that were also being mistreated, according to probable cause statements filed in Jasper Country Circuit Court.

During a press conference Monday, Police Chief Richard Pearson described the residence at 610 East Pool Street as a "house of horrors."

In addition to the felony charges, Shane Michael Ross, 50, Crystal Dawn Ross, 46, Hannah Marie Ross, 25, and Megan Olivia Ross, 19, were charged with a misdemeanor animal neglect or abandonment.

From Shane Ross' probable cause statement:

On 8/9/2026, I was dispatched to 610 E Pool St in reference to a reported runaway. Due to being them on call detective, I responded to the area of Landreth Ave/ Pool St where a command post had been set
up. After speaking with Officer's at the command post, I responded to 610 E Pool St which is the
address where the juvenile female had run away from. 

I photographed the inside of the residence after receiving verbal consent from Crystal Ross who is the juvenile's adoptive mother. Inside the residence, I observed there to be clutter, trash, food and clothing all over the inside of the residence making it difficult to walk through the residence. I also observed several animals inside the residence in cages and walking freely about the residence. There was a strong odor of spoiling food, urine and ammonia.

I also observed a dog cage in the hallway leading to what appeared to be the master bedroom. After
photographing the inside and outside of the residence, I was notified that Mr. Ross was going to be
transported to the Joplin Police Department to be interviewed due to information being gathered that
the juvenile female V1 had been locked in a dog cage inside the residence. I cleared 610 E Pool St and
responded to the Joplin Police Department Investigations Bureau. 

Upon my arrival, I contacted Shane Ross in interview room 115. I advised Ross of the reason for the interview and advised him of his Miranda Warning. Ross advised he understood his rights verbally and signed the Joplin Police Department Miranda Warning form. After signing the form, I began to ask Ross questions about V1.

Ross advised that V1 was actually his niece and had been living with him, his wife and two daughters
for about 10 years. Ross advised V1's father had lost custody of her and she had been placed with him
by a local Baptist organization. 

Ross advised that they had also adopted V1 after her fathers custody rights had been taken away. I asked Ross about V1 being locked in a cage and he acknowledged that V1 had been locked in a cage due to her behavior. 

Ross advised that V1 had several mental issues and had been in counseling and also was currently taking medication for those issues. Ross advised that V1 would always get out and would always be found eating food wherever she would be located. Ross advised that V12 had never ran from the house before, but had made statements about burning the house down. 

Ross advised they had reached out for help several times and had even been told that V1 needed to be in some kind of care facility but they had not followed though with that after one facility asking if they wanted V1 back. 

Ross advised that he knew that it was wrong to lock V1 inside a cage and he didn't want to do it but they had too in order to be able to sleep. Ross advised that they would also lock V1 in the cage when they would leave the house even though both of his adult daughters would be at the house when they left. 

Ross advised the would be gone from the house no more that two hours at a time and if they would be gone longer, they would take V1 with them. Ross advised they would lock V1 in the cage over night and sometimes in the evenings depending on what they were doing. 

I was able to observe the cage that V1 would be locked in and confirmed the location with Ross when interviewing him. The cage appeared to be a cage for a large dog and there were two padlocks on the cage. There were also several zip ties connected to the cage to enhance the security of the cage.

There were also 80 animals removed from the residence. Several of the dogs that were located in cages
did not have adequate shelter from the elements outside and had algae growing in the 5 gallons buckets
used for water. A dog that was located inside a cage inside the residence had hair that was matted all the way to the skin and feces and urine inside the feeding bowl. There was also no water available for the dog inside the cage with it. The cage also had fecal matter smeared all over the inside of the cage.

From Crystal Ross' probable cause statement:

V1 was found to have been sleeping in a dog cage outside of Crystal's bedroom, to prevent her from hurting her family during the overnight hours. She was made to sleep only in a diaper with a pillow and a blanket. Multiple pad locks were located on the cage to prevent her from escaping. 

Crystal admitted she knew that was wrong and advised it was likely causing emotional and mental damage to V1 but she continued to make V1 sleep in the cage for close to 1 year.

According to other family members V1 had been sleeping in the cage for closer to 2 years. Crystal
admitted there had been opportunities to place V1 in a care facility, where she would be properly cared
for by medical professionals but she did not feel comfortable doing so and thought she could provide
better care for her at home. 

When the juvenile was located, she was only 4 feet tall and weighed approximately 50 pounds at 12 years old.

The statement also included the following description of how the victim was kept shielded from everyone:

Crystal has been allowed to maintain care of V1 for many years and has failed to do so. Several
neighbors in the area did not even know there was a young child living in the home. Crystal has isolated
the child to the point she has not attended school in at least 5 years, and she does not take her anywhere
because of her "behavioral outbursts." 

Crystal has many church family members and other family who came to the scene and supported her behavior, indicating they would likely help her leave the area to avoid prosecution if she were to be released. She should not be allowed to be around children, she should most certainly not be allowed to have access to V1, and she should not be given the freedom to obtain more animals so she can fail to care for them as well.