Duo had 64 animals in 'unlivable' home with teen, 75-year-old, Volusia cops say

Couple charged with child neglect, elderly neglect, animal cruelty

DELTONA – A Deltona couple was charged with child neglect, elderly neglect and animal cruelty after officials found two teenagers, an elderly woman and more than 60 pets inside their home

Deputies arrived to the Captain Drive home on Wednesday morning of Timothy Horne, 51, and Renee Horne, 55, with Deltona Animal Control officers to execute a search warrant so that city officials could check on the health and living conditions of the animals inside the home.

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Upon arriving, they described smelling a strong odor of animal urine and feces coming from inside the home, as well as seeing a large number of flies on the inside of the windows.

Deputies said more than a dozen cats could be seen in in the foyer covered in urine and feces as they removed a 15-year-old girl, a 16-year-old boy and a 75-year-old woman who suffers from dementia.

Several litter boxes in the residence were described by officials as overflowing, and there were dirty dishes all over the kitchen and flies throughout the bottom floor of the house.

Deputies said piles of animal feces were also found in the bedrooms, bathrooms and hallways, and the "condition of the residence was unlivable due to the amount of animal feces and urine within."

Wednesday afternoon Deltona Animal Control officers had found 61 cats and three dogs, but were still at the home.

The 75-year-old woman who was removed from the home was taken to the hospital for medical treatment. The teens were turned over to relatives.

Timothy Horne and Renee Horne were booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail where they are being held without bond.


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