Couple Charged With Elder, Animal Abuse in Urine-Soaked, Infested Home

A North County couple are accused of keeping an elderly woman and more than 50 animals in deplorable conditions, with the floor and furniture covered in pet urine and dried and fresh animal feces.

Barabara Endicott, 45, and Richard Mark West, 52, both of the 4400 block of Papal Drive in North County, were charged with third-degree elder abuse and animal abuse, both class A misdemeanors.

A St. Louis County police officer responded to the home Oct. 3, 2012 after receiving a call about unsanitary conditions at the couple’s home. He returned with a St. Louis County health department official.

“Upon arrival, I detected a strong odor of urine and feces coming from inside the residence,” the officer reported.

Endicott’s mother, 70, answered the door, and she appeared very dirty, and her slippers were soaked in urine and feces. The officer said as he was talking to the woman, insects fell from the doorframe onto the woman.

The officer said the woman allowed the officer and a health inspector into the home. He said there were at least 50 animals inside the home, including six dogs, 14 birds and more than 30 cats.

The officer said floor tiles were not secured to the floor because of the amount of urine and liquid that soaked through the tiles.

The officer said there tables, counters, window sills, love seat and couch had animal waste on them.

The officer wrote, “The insides of the cabinets and drawers were severely roach-infested. There were layers of roaches, approximately one-inch thick, on the walls and appliances. The sink was full of dirty dishes and standing water. There were spiders and webs covering the walls and ceilings.”

A bowl fresh fruit on the table also contained roaches.

David Wrone, a spokesman for the said Endicott and West hired an environmental cleaning company that “scoured the home” and the couple and the elderly woman since have been allowed to move back into the home.

However, after hearing the elderly woman was in distress again, health officials returned to the home Wednesday. He said that odor from pet urine that had soaked into the floors had returned.

Wrone said the couple does have pets in the home, but they are allowable and there’s no current health issue with the home. However,

“Primarily, it’s a stench issue,” Wrone said. “We did order them to take care of the odor, and we’re going back next week to see how they’re coming along with that.”