'Their boots stuck to the floor': Parents who kept filthy, lice-infested kids in disgusting home told cops 'just take the foster kids,' police say

A 34-year-old parent and her 26-year-old hubby successful Missouri were arrested aft authorities allegedly recovered 4 children successful their attraction malnourished and surviving successful filth.

Stacey Laura-Louise Castleman and Erik Aleister Castleman were taken into custody past period and charged with aggregate counts of abuse oregon neglect of a kid arsenic good arsenic endangering the payment of a child, tribunal records show.

According to a probable origin affidavit, officers with the Warrensburg Police Department connected Dec. 27, 2025, responded to a study from the Division of Family Services regarding imaginable kid neglect astatine a section residence. Officers said that upon arriving astatine the address, they "immediately noticed a beardown odor of urine and feces." They noted that "their boots stuck to the level arsenic they began their locomotion through," which revealed galore unsafe and unsanitary conditions, per the affidavit.

"Officers saw feces smashed into the carpet, smeared connected the walls, and connected the furniture," the papers states. "The feces were varying colors, indicating immoderate had been determination for a important magnitude of time."

Rotting nutrient allegedly filled the room wherever the descend overflowed with soiled dishes and dried liquid spills covered the floor. A lidless trash bin successful the halfway of the country was said to beryllium "overflowing" with soiled diapers.

Police said that erstwhile they got to the archetypal bedroom, determination was an "overwhelming" odor of urine coming from inside.

"A furniture framework and uncovered mattress were present," the affidavit states. "The mattress was covered successful paw prints of either mud oregon feces from the dogs. The stains were crusted into the cloth of the mattress. A broad was recovered rolled up astatine the extremity of the mattress. More feces was recovered connected the level successful this room."

Police recovered the toddler successful a bouncer successful the kitchen. Beneath the bouncer, constabulary said determination was a "puddle of caller urine." When the toddler was lifted from the bouncer, a "large magnitude of liquid" allegedly "poured" from the diaper to the level and officers said the kid was suffering from "an assertive diaper rash." Stacey Castleman allegedly told constabulary she believed the kid was allergic to diapers.

In the bath connected the archetypal floor, officers said the toilet and tub were some covered successful feces and the toilet was overflowing with "toilet insubstantial and tampons."

On the 2nd floor, constabulary said they recovered the bedrooms of 3 much kids, each of whom were betwixt ages 3 and 8. The children each allegedly slept connected bare mattresses that were brownish owed to a operation of ungraded and feces.

"The floors of each country had toys and covering sitting successful the feces," the affidavit states. "Officers looked successful the bath connected this level and recovered it was filthy. There was quality feces and quality urine connected the floor, overflowing the toilet, successful the bathtub, and successful a bucket that was lined with a integrative bag."

Police said each 3 kids were filthy, were infested with lice, and walked astir the feces-filled location successful bare feet.

An serviceman successful the location said helium overheard Stacey Castleman telling a Division of Family Services idiosyncratic to "just instrumentality the foster kids," adding, "obviously it's excessively overmuch for maine to handle."

Stacey Castleman allegedly told constabulary the location was successful disarray "due to it being the vacation season" earlier stating that she wanted to "give each the kids up."

Both defendants are being held successful Johnson County Jail connected $10,000 bond. Stacey Castleman is presently scheduled to look successful tribunal for a proceeding connected Jan. 14, records show. Her hubby is slated to look connected Jan. 21.