Thomas Bach, 43, and Megan Bach, 44, have been charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, recklessly endangering another person and more
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Credit: Philadelphia Police
NEED TO KNOW
- Authorities found two children living in “deplorable” conditions alongside 38 cats and a dog in a Philadelphia home
- Megan and Thomas Bach are each facing multiple charges, including child endangerment and possession of an offensive weapon
- The Pennsylvania SPCA rescued animals from the home and continues efforts to capture additional cats on the property
A couple from Philadelphia have been charged after two children were found living alongside several dead animals in squalid conditions in their home.
On Tuesday, July 7, the FBI executed “court-authorized law enforcement activities” at a home on the 7100 block of Whittaker Avenue at around 11 a.m. local time, a press release from the Philadelphia Police Department said. Upon entering, police alleged that “the property was unsafe due to deplorable living conditions.”
An 8-month-old baby and a 5-year-old child were found at the residence and “transported to a local hospital for evaluation,” per the press release.
Megan Bach, 44, was arrested at the scene. Thomas Bach, 43, was also arrested after he arrived at the home. Both face two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, two counts of recklessly endangering another person, criminal conspiracy, possession of an instrument of crime (PIC), and possession of an offensive weapon (POW), per Philadelphia Police.
Megan and Thomas were identified as the children’s parents, per local news outlet ABC 6.
Philadelphia Police are still actively investigating following the arrests.
Credit: Philadelphia Police
The Pennsylvania SPCA Animal Law Enforcement Team said it removed 38 cats and a dog from the home. “FBI, while executing an unrelated search warrant at the property, discovered the home to be unsanitary and housing multiple animals,” the press release from the PSPCA’s Animal Law Enforcement Team read.
“The interior of the residence was found to be filled with an overabundance of belongings as well as feces, urine, and empty food bags and boxes, with several cats observed throughout the property,” the press release added.
The Pennsylvania SPCA ALE officers were assisted by ACCT Philly, and “spent hours onsite working to safely capture and remove animals from the home.”
Credit: Philadelphia Police
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The organization added that there are still additional cats remaining on the property, and that humane traps have been set to capture them safely.
“All animals removed from the property were transported to the Pennsylvania SPCA’s Philadelphia headquarters, where they will undergo forensic examinations and receive any necessary medical care,” the organization added, also stating that the animals will be held in custody until the Bachs’ case is adjudicated in court.
Megan and Thomas are currently in custody and awaiting their respective preliminary hearings, according to court dockets reviewed by PEOPLE.
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.