4 Children Removed from ‘Uninhabitable Conditions’

Westmoreland County Sheriff's Officers showed up at the Zimmerman residence on Thursday, December 26th to serve a criminal mischief warrant for 38 year old Melissa Zimmerman.

“When Melissa answered the door after we knocked, deputies were so overwhelmed by the smell of urine and feces to the point we had to step back,” Sergeant Irvin Shipley wrote.

Court documents state that officers found urine, feces and soiled diapers throughout the house, to the point that a "black sludge" covered the living room floor.

“Some of the deputies had to leave the residence for fear of getting sick. As we entered the kitchen, I observed swarms of flying insects over rotten food and a puddle of urine, feces and food on the floor.”  Shipley stated that he soon ordered everyone out of the house “because I didn’t feel it was safe to occupy.”

Four children, all under the age of 6 were taken into the custody of  Children and Youth Services and two dogs and cars were also removed from the home and turned over to the Westmoreland County Humane Society.

Cloyd A. Zimmerman, 38, and Melissa both turned themselves in to authorities and appeared Monday before Jeannette District Judge Joseph DeMarchis to be arraigned on four counts of child endangerment and two counts of animal neglect.  They were both released later the same day on unsecured bonds; $25,000 for Cloyd and $50,000 for Melissa.

They are due back in court on January 9th.  In the interim, they are ordered to have no unsupervised contact with minors.  They were additionally ordered to have no pets.