Tampa police arrested 45-year-old Barbara Boone and 65-year-old Jose Colon (aka Jose Angel Luis Colon Sr.) yesterday after they found the kids, who ranged in age from 8 to 17, living in deplorable conditions at 4206 Powhatan Avenue East.
Officers said the house was infested with roaches, rats and spiders. There was no running water or electricity.
They also found fecal matter on the floor, mold on the ceilings, broken windows, and floors caving in.
The only bathroom in the house didn't have a working toilet and the children were forced to use a bucket for a toilet.
Investigators say they found food, but it was spoiled. Investigators went to the home after someone made an anonymous tip to the Department of Children and Family Services (DCF).
During the couple’s first appearance in court on Tuesday morning, Judge John N. Conrad told Barbara Boone, “These children lived as if they were animals in a cage. I mean, that’s the reality.” He went on to say “I mean, an animal couldn’t live in that. I don’t know what right-thinking person could let their child live in that type of environment.”
NEITHER ONE HAS A JOB
The judge also asked their attorney about the SSI (Social Security) and Disability benefits they'd been receiving, asking, 'Where did all that money go??'
Just two weeks earlier, Animal Control officers charged the couple with animal cruelty. It is possible observations made during that visit contributed to the arrests for child neglect.
According to an arrest affidavit uncovered by News Channel 8, investigators confirm the children had not been going to school for “some two to three years.”
Detectives said there was evidence that at least one child had a speech delay, difficulty saying words and formulating complete sentences. One of the children could not identify written numbers in print.
CHILD PROTECTION WORKERS KNEW ABOUT IT
One neighbor says she had seen DCF social workers at the home on at least two previous occasions in the last year. She says that the kids were removed from the home for a period of time and then returned. She asks how those children could've been put back in that environment since it appears that the living conditions hadn't changed.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is investigating. Child protection investigators will continue looking into the case (and I assume looking into how they dropped the ball and stuck these kids back in this dump).
Neighbors say the children belong to the couple, and that others were grown adults and had left the house.
Records show the family has owned the house since 1993.
Neighbors say that Mr. Colon apparently had a medical issue a couple of years ago and that the condition of the property rapidly went downhill. There's now a sticker on the front outside window condemning the property.
Well he's not 100% disabled because he's driving the van in the photo where she's bringing another dog into the squalor and there are photos on Facebook showing them visiting parks, tourist type places, etc. Don't tell me they can't pick up the trash, dog feces, do laundry, wash the dishes...
A judge will determine where the children should be placed and whether parental rights should be terminated, DCF said.
News Channel 8 has calls out to the office of the Hillsborough County of Public Schools to find out more about the children’s attendance records.
If they can afford to bond out of jail, Judge Conrad ordered them not to have any contact with the children.
(KXAN - Aug 16, 2016)
ARREST INFORMATION:
Full Name: Jose Angel Colon
Gender: Male
Birthdate: 10/11/1950
Block: 4200 E Powhatan Ave
City: Tampa, Florida 33610
Height: 5'08"
Weight: 150 lbs
Hair Color: GRY
Eye Color: BRO
Place of Birth: Puerto Rico
Date of arrest: 08/15/2016
Arrest Age: 65
Arresting Agency: Hillsborough County
Arrest Location: 800 TWIGGS ST E, Hillsborough, FL
Total Bond: $15,500
Charges:
- CONTRIB TO DELINQUENCY OR DEPENDENCY OF CH - STATUTE: CHAB3002 (1 M). BOND: $1250
- CONTRIB TO DELINQUENCY OR DEPENDENCY OF CH - STATUTE: CHAB3002 (1 M). BOND: $1250
- CONTRIB TO DELINQUENCY OR DEPENDENCY OF CH - STATUTE: CHAB3002 (1 M). BOND: $1250
- CONTRIB TO DELINQUENCY OR DEPENDENCY OF CH - STATUTE: CHAB3002 (1 M). BOND: $1250
- CONTRIB TO DELINQUENCY OR DEPENDENCY OF CH - STATUTE: CHAB3002 (1 M). BOND: $1250
- CHILD NEGLECT - STATUTE: CHAB2016 (3 F). BOND: $1250. NOTES: W/O GBH
- CHILD NEGLECT - STATUTE: CHAB2016 (3 F). BOND: $1250. NOTES: W/O GBH
- CHILD NEGLECT - STATUTE: CHAB2016 (3 F). BOND: $1250. NOTES: W/O GBH
- CHILD NEGLECT - STATUTE: CHAB2016 (3 F). BOND: $1250. NOTES: W/O GBH
- CHILD NEGLECT - STATUTE: CHAB2016 (3 F). BOND: $1250. NOTES: W/O GBH
- AGGRAVATED CRUELTY TO ANIMALS - STATUTE: MISC0416 (3 F). BOND: $2500
- ARREST ON FAILURE TO OBEY WRITTEN PROMISE - STATUTE: ADMIN023 (N N). BOND: $500. NOTES: FTA TRESPASS/LARCENY W/REL TO UTILITY
- ARREST ON FAILURE TO OBEY WRITTEN PROMISE - STATUTE: ADMIN023 (N N). NOTES: FTA TRESPASS/LARCENY W/REL TO UTILITY
Full Name: Barbara Ann Boone
Gender: Female
Birthdate: 03/10/1971
Height: 5'03"
Weight: 310 lbs
Hair Color: BRO
Eye Color: BLU
Place of Birth: South Carolina
Block: 4200 E Powhatan Ave
City: Tampa, Florida 33610
Arresting Agency: Hillsborough County
Arrest Location:800 TWIGGS ST E, Hillsborough, FL
Arrest Age:45
Total Bond: $15,000
Charges:
- CONTRIB TO DELINQUENCY OR DEPENDENCY OF CH - STATUTE: CHAB3002 (1 M). BOND: $1250
- CONTRIB TO DELINQUENCY OR DEPENDENCY OF CH - STATUTE: CHAB3002 (1 M). BOND: $1250
- CONTRIB TO DELINQUENCY OR DEPENDENCY OF CH - STATUTE: CHAB3002 (1 M). BOND: $1250
- CONTRIB TO DELINQUENCY OR DEPENDENCY OF CH - STATUTE: CHAB3002 (1 M). BOND: $1250
- CONTRIB TO DELINQUENCY OR DEPENDENCY OF CH - STATUTE: CHAB3002 (1 M). BOND: $1250
- CHILD NEGLECT - STATUTE: CHAB2016 (3 F). BOND: $1250. NOTES: W/O GBH
- CHILD NEGLECT - STATUTE: CHAB2016 (3 F). BOND: $1250. NOTES: W/O GBH
- CHILD NEGLECT - STATUTE: CHAB2016 (3 F). BOND: $1250. NOTES: W/O GBH
- CHILD NEGLECT - STATUTE: CHAB2016 (3 F). BOND: $1250. NOTES: W/O GBH
- CHILD NEGLECT - STATUTE: CHAB2016 (3 F). BOND: $1250. NOTES: W/O GBH
- AGGRAVATED CRUELTY TO ANIMALS - STATUTE: MISC0416 (3 F). BOND: $2500
