Hoarding, child neglect Frankfort, IL (US) Incident Date: Wednesday, Jun 14, 2006 County: Will Local Map: available Disposition: Dismissed Charges: Misdemeanor Case Images: 3 files available Persons of Interest: » Shannon Fetzer - Dismissed (Conditional) » Benjamin Fetzer - Dismissed (Conditional) Case Updates: 2 update(s) available

Case ID: 8986 Classification: Hoarding Animal: dog (non pit-bull) View more cases in IL (US) Child or elder neglect Drugs or alcohol involved Login to Watch this Case

Bond was set on June 15 for a couple accused of allowing their children to live in a "filthy" home in an affluent Frankfort subdivision.

Shannon Fetzer's bond was set at $100,000 and Benjamin Fetzer was released on a $1 million recognizance bond, according to a clerk at the Will County Courthouse in Joliet.

Police were called to the home in the 22000 block of South Clary Sage Drive after receiving an anonymous call about a foul odor coming from the home.

Authorities said officers found drugs in plain sight inside the home, plus animal and human feces and garbage strewn around the home.

Frankfort police charged Benjamin Fetzer, 31, and Shannon Fetzer, 29, with child endangerment, animal cruelty and possession of a controlled substance, according to a news release.

During their bond hearing, the judge barred the couple from seeing their four children unless the meeting was supervised by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, according to the clerk.

The children, who are 11 days old, 1 year, and two 4-year-olds, were removed from the Fetzer home in Frankfort and placed in the custody of a family member, according to DCFS spokesman Jimmy Whitlow.

Building inspectors have declared the house uninhabitable until it is thoroughly cleaned, the news release said.

"Never any idea that any of this would have been going on. Certainly not in this area," neighbor Rachel Byrne said.

Neighbors said police were present when the children were taken away by Division of Children and Family Services agents and the children's father was taken away in handcuffs.

Police wearing hazmat suits were in and out of the home on the afternoon of June 14 removing evidence.

Neighbor Beth Raptan told NBC5 that she thought it was odd that the children were rarely outside.

"I starting thinking there was something wrong with this picture," Raptan said. "I feel like we should have done something. I feel like we should have called somebody. But what are you going to tell them? You never see the kids outside?"

The agency responded to a tip called into their hot line, Whitlow said. He declined to comment further, except to say the case is currently under investigation.

Case Updates

Neighborhood Map

For more information about the Interactive Animal Cruelty Maps, see the map notes.

Back to Top

Add this case to:

Del.icio.us

|

Digg

|

Furl

|

References

NBC5 - June 15, 2006

Not sure what these icons mean? Click here.

Note: Classifications and other fields should not be used to determine what specific charges the suspect is facing or was convicted of - they are for research and statistical purposes only. The case report and subsequent updates outline the specific charges. Charges referenced in the original case report may be modified throughout the course of the investigation or trial, so case updates, when available, should always be considered the most accurate reflection of charges.

For more information regarding classifications and usage of this database, please visit the database notes and disclaimer.