A Hebron couple is facing felony neglect charges after deputies say they walked into a house choked with animal waste, swarming flies, and 22 dogs, all while two children were living inside. Richard Humphris, 70, and Lisa Humphris, 67, were each charged with two Level 6 felony counts of neglect of a dependent and later bonded out of the Porter County jail. Deputies responding to a welfare check on Saturday, July 11, reported dog excrement in both children's bedrooms, and one child was barefoot with feces stuck to their feet. The couple is scheduled to appear in Porter County court on July 22.
What deputies say they found
Charging documents describe a home so contaminated with animal urine and feces that investigators said it posed a health risk to the two children. Deputies documented 22 dogs inside the residence, flies throughout the house, and dog waste in the children's bedrooms. As reported by the Chicago Tribune, one child had feces stuck to their bare feet when authorities arrived.
Charges and potential penalties
The Humphrises were each charged with neglect of a dependent, which Indiana law defines as knowingly placing a dependent in a situation that endangers the dependent's life or health. Under Indiana Code § 35-46-1-4, neglect of a dependent is classified as a Level 6 felony. According to state sentencing rules, a Level 6 felony carries a fixed range of roughly six months to two-and-a-half years in prison, with judges weighing advisory terms and other factors at sentencing, as outlined by FindLaw.
Court schedule and local officials
Online court records show the Humphrises have a hearing set for July 22 before Magistrate Ana Osan, and both have been released on bond while they await that appearance. The Chicago Tribune reported the bond and scheduled hearing, and the Porter County staff directory lists Magistrate Ana Osan in the county's Superior Court. Porter County confirms the magistrate's role.
What agencies might do next
The Indiana Department of Child Services operates a child-abuse and neglect hotline and investigates reports to assess children's safety and determine next steps for their care. Local animal-control officers can impound animals and enforce county ordinances when pets are found abandoned, abused or neglected. Porter County's animal-control rules allow officers to seize neglected animals and spell out impoundment procedures, while the state's DCS site explains how suspected child neglect is reported and handled. Indiana DCS and Porter County Animal Control provide public guidance on those processes.
