Staff Report

Katrina A. Baker

Edward L. Schuckman

COLUMBIA CITY — A Columbia City couple face criminal charges after four children and two dogs were removed from a filthy, unlivable home.

Katrina A. Baker, 34; and Edward L. Schuckman, 38, both of 551 S. Norris Court, Columbia City, are each charged with four counts of neglect of a dependent, all level 6 felonies; and two counts of cruelty to an animal, both class A misdemeanors.

According to court documents, Columbia City Police officers made a home visit at 551 S. Norris Court on May 6, following a report from an Indiana Department of Child Services caseworker about poor living conditions. Upon arrival at the scene, they were informed by Schuckman, Baker’s boyfriend, that two dogs and four children lived in the home. Schuckman told officers he did not live at the Norris Court home all the time; however, when he was asked how he received mail, Schuckman said it was at the Norris Court address and had been so for years.

It was later determined that four adults resided in the home, including Baker, Schuckman, Baker’s mother, and Baker’s brother.

Immediately upon entering the home, officers were overwhelmed by a “foul odor of uncleanliness.” There were piles of clothes, trash and miscellaneous items that were stacked about three feet deep in the residence. The home’s walls were filthy with unknown substances, markings, and cobwebs. When one officer shined a flashlight, it would disturb insects which would take flight in swarms. Ceilings were also littered with insects by the hundreds.

The kitchen floor was completely covered in trash and the stove was unusable and was being used for trash storage.

Upon entering the home’s only bathroom, officers noticed the bathroom’s sink did not appear to work. The toilet also was filled halfway with fecal matter. The bottom of a shower was covered in dead insects.

Officers also found what appeared to be animal fecal matter in one of the bedrooms.

After multiple attempts were made to contact Baker, DCS workers decided to take one of the children who was home at the time to a local hospital for an evaluation. The three other children who lived at the home were in school during the visit. Officers were advised that DCS workers would pick up the three children from school.

The two dogs in the home were taken to the Whitley County Humane Shelter for evaluation.

A DCS worker was asked by officers about the reason for the home visit. The worker said she had worked for DCS for about six years and in that time had been to the home nearly two dozen times. She said the complaints were always about or included the home’s conditions. The DCS worker told officers they had to get a court order a few years ago to enter the home.

The worker said that on April 10, they received a call from Columbia City Police concerning conditions at the residence. DCS workers went to the home on April 11 and made contact with Schuckman and Baker outside. They brought one of the children outside but did not let DCS into the home. DCS workers returned to the home on April 18, but did not get an answer at the door. They returned on May 2 and spoke with Schuckman, who refused to let them enter the home.

Whitley County’s health department then received a court order and returned on May 6 with DCS workers and police. Baker and Schuckman locked their front door and refused entry.

Officers then spoke with Baker’s mother, who said she lived at the Norris Court home to help with the children. While speaking with Baker’s mother, officers were informed by Allen County officials that contact had been made with Baker.

Baker did not appear concerned for the children’s welfare and didn’t show any urgency to the situation.

Baker’s brother said he had recently been in the hospital and was not always in the home. He said Baker lived at the Norris Court address for about 10 years and that his mother resided there for as long as he could remember.

Baker, Schuckman, and Baker’s brother all told officers they were aware the home’s conditions were bad, attributing the reason for that to the children causing messes and not listening to the adults when being told to clean.

In a letter, the property’s manager said the conditions were “the worst tenant destruction I have ever encountered.”

Officers later received evaluation reports on the two dogs found in the home. During evaluation, it was noted both dogs were infested with fleas and tapeworms. Upon being bathed, the water ran red off of them due to the fleas and vet technicians watched numerous fleas jump off the dogs’ bodies. One of the dogs was believed to be only six weeks old, too young to be away from its mother.

Whitley County Humane Society staff also reported that both dogs ate ravenously. Their nails, which were severely overgrown, were also trimmed.

Baker and Schuckman were booked in the Whitley County Jail on May 13. Baker’s brother and mother currently do not face any criminal charges.