Two Jennings County parents are facing charges after police investigated suspected drug activity over the weekend.

A Jennings County Sheriff’s Department spokesman says that on Sunday, Deputy Tom Mellencamp was dispatched to a home on South State Road 7. Deputy Mellencamp says that he spoke to the homeowner and was invited inside to look around. After looking in and around the residence, the deputy says that he was unable to find any drug related items. However, he did report seeing six children, between the ages of six-months and 15-years-old, in “extremely filthy living conditions with trash everywhere.” In addition, authorities say that there was no edible food in the home and one “very young” child was allowed to play near the highway. Deputy Mellencamp says that he retrieved the child because the parents refused to do so.

During the investigation, Deputy Mellencamp reported that one of the children told him that she was looking forward to going to school the next day so she could have a good meal. The Sheriff’s Department called the Department of Child Services, who removed all six children.

Deputies arrested 34-year-old William J. Waltermire and 35-year-old Roberta R. Waltermire, both of North Vernon. The pair are each facing preliminary charges of five counts of Neglect of a Dependent. Authorities say that the Waltermires were each booked in the Jennings County Jail on $1,055 bond.

Sheriff Gary Driver says that tips from the community are an important component in the work of law enforcement. He is using this case as a platform to encourage people to report any situation that may be dangerous for a child. Authorities say that tips and information can be left anonymously.