Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Newport couple faces child neglect and animal cruelty charges
A Newport couple was taken into custody on Tuesday on charges of child neglect and abuse, as well as animal cruelty. Newport Captain Amy Gentry said she and Patrol Officer Mike Robey met animal control officers regarding a severely malnourished pit bulldog that was at a residence on Freeman Street. Inside the home of Katherine Cogdill, 27, and Michael Foster, 23, the officers found a two month-old boy in filthy conditions. There was a strong odor of animal urine "and it was difficult to breathe," Officer Gentry said. The floor of the home was covered in feces, and the child had dirty fingernails and clothes. His bottles were moldy and dirty, his blanket had fleas and the food in the refrigerator was rotten, with cockroaches, according to the officers. Police said the child's crib was within three feet of a cage which contained a 12 foot Burmese python and three other snakes. And there was no water in the cage. First Call EMS transported the child to the Newport Medical Center for evaluation, and the boy's grandmother also was called to the scene. The total of 11 snakes, two spiders, four lizards (including one that was dead), three dogs and two cats all were turned over to Newport animal control. Bond for Cogdill and Foster was set at $10,000 each.


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