Police: Two Nebraska children found in animal kennel

From Nigel Walwyn, CNN

October 26, 2011 -- Updated 0044 GMT (0844 HKT)

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Police: Four face multiple charges after children found in unsanitary home
• Four children in North Platte, Nebraska, are now in government custody
• Two were housed in a wire animal cage, authorities say
• Preliminary hearings are scheduled for Thursday

(CNN) -- Four young children were found living in squalor, with two allegedly housed in a wire animal kennel, North Platte, Nebraska, police said Tuesday.
Four suspects, all adults who lived at the trailer home, face multiple charges, officials said.
Police got an anonymous tip and did a welfare check on the residence Monday, said Lincoln County Attorney Rebecca Harling.
"Upon arrival and subsequent entrance into the residence, the officers found the residence to be highly unsanitary and unsafe for children to reside in," police Lt. Rich Hoaglund said in a statement. "There was trash, dirty clothing, food and animal feces and urine throughout the residence."
Two young children, ages 5 and 3, were found in the metal kennel, which was secured by a wire tie, Hoaglund said. The cage reportedly had a mattress.
The other two children, ages 8 years and 8 months, were not in the kennel but were considered to be in unsafe conditions.
Officers did not see any signs of obvious physical abuse to the children, Hoaglund told CNN.
Police said the four adults, whose exact relationships with the children were unclear Tuesday, were aware of the conditions They were charged with felony child abuse, first-degree false imprisonment and misdemeanor child abuse, police said.
They were identified by police as Bryson L. Eyten, 25; Samantha J. Eyten, 24; Ashly A. Clark, 22; and Lacy J. Beyer, 20.
The children were placed in state custody, officials said.
The suspects were arraigned Tuesday afternoon and remained in jail with $50,000 bond each, authorities said. Their preliminary hearings are scheduled for Thursday.
A phone number listed for Clark was not working Tuesday evening. CNN left a message at a number listed for Bryson Eyten. A person answering a number listed for Samantha Eyten said it was the wrong number. Beyer's listed phone number did not accept messages.