Soddy Daisy couple facing multiple child neglect charges

SODDY DAISY, Tennessee(WDEF) -An anonymous call to Soddy Daisy dispatch leads to a couple being arrested and charged with six counts of child neglect.

The case began back in September of last year but the couple were not arrested on a warrant until Wednesday.

According to an arrest affidavit obtained by News 12, an anonymous called told authorities that a white Ford truck reported stolen out of Florida was located at a residence in the 9300 block of Springfield Road.

When officers arrived at the residence to investigate the call, they encountered a woman who was babysitting children. The woman told officers that Roy Benton, 35, was the resident who lived at the home. She also said he was in Florida and had been there three times in 2015.

The officers left the home and came back with a search warrant to look for a stolen vehicle. They found a Ford truck that was reported stolen out of Jacksonville Florida.

Officers obtained a second search warrant to search the house. During their search, officers found drug paraphernalia in the bedroom.  They also found animal feces all over the floor and rodents in the kitchen cabinets.

Child protective services was called because of the children who were in the home.

Roy Benton, 35, and Kristy Benton, 30, were both charged with  six counts of child neglect along with two counts of possessing drug paraphernalia. Roy Benton was also charged with possession of stolen property worth more than $1,500.

Roy Benton remains in the Hamilton County jail on a $95,000 bond.

According to jail officials, Kristy Benton has already bonded out of jail.

Both suspects are due in court March 1st for preliminary hearing.