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Abuse Charged After 6 Kids, 5 Dogs Removed From Home

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Dewey Hendrix, 31, lived in this house with his six children and five dogs.

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By THOMAS W.  KRAUSE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 29, 2008

Updated: 01/29/2008 04:23 pm

TAMPA - After the fire, Dewey James Hendrix told police, he was working hard to reconstruct an older-model home on North 30th Street.

  Dewey James Hendrix

Hendrix, a builder by trade, said he stayed out of town and came in to perform the reconstruction.

Tampa police, however, say Hendrix, 31, lived in the dilapidated house with his six children and five dogs.

The home, which had large holes in the wooden floors, was rigged with a series of electrical cords connecting two portable space heaters, Sgt. Paul Mumford said. The only running water was in the bathroom. It has no kitchen.

Two mattresses were covered with dirty linens, Mumford said. The only set of clean clothes found in the house belonged to Hendrix.

Today, the children are in custody of child protective services. One of the dogs remains in the custody of animal services; four had to be euthanized. Hendrix, who goes by the nicknames "Bootman" and "Preacher," is in Orient Road Jail on charges of felony child neglect, felony cruelty to animals and several misdemeanor animal-abuse charges. His bail has been set at $55,000.

"How, in today's society, someone would allow their children to live in those conditions is beyond me," Mumford said.

Mumford said neighbors confirmed the children, ages 5 to 13, were living there. They do not know whether Hendrix was staying out of town. The owner of the house told police that he knew Hendrix was working on the place but was unaware that anyone was living there.

A couple of weeks ago, child welfare officials got a call from James Elementary School saying the children had not been to class, Mumford said. Tampa police went to the house Monday and found the children. Hendrix was arrested about 6:30 p.m. Monday.

People who live near the home, at 5018 N. 30th St., said the children had been seen this weekend running around outside at 1:30 a.m., Mumford said. Others reported that the children had stolen groceries from a neighbor because they wanted something to eat.

The refrigerator in the house contained two bags of rice and a bag of vegetables, police reports said.

"The detective who was working this case said, as a father, he couldn't understand how anyone could do this to their children," Mumford said.

Their mother does not live with them and Hendrix had custody, Mumford said.

Hillsborough County Animal Services was called to the house to retrieve the dogs, which had no food or water, police said.

Marti Ryan, a spokeswoman for Hillsborough County Animal Services, said four of the dogs seemed to be a Labrador-shepherd mix. They were thin, sickly and were covered with parasites. Hendrix signed over ownership of the dogs and they were "humanely euthanized," Ryan said.

The fifth dog, a large male cane corso breed named "Diesel," remains with animal services. Hendrix would not sign over ownership, Ryan said. Animal services is expected to petition for ownership, Ryan said.

The house sits on a raked sand lot surrounded by patches of old bricks. A new children's bicycle lies in the front yard next to an electric toy car that children can ride. Along the side of the front yard is a worn out boat.

Behind the house sit a couple of wheelbarrows and scraps of wood piled high, obviously pulled from the home. Shards of old carpet lie everywhere. The eaves are black with ash and smell like a house fire. Several windows are missing, boarded over for closure.

A notice, stuck to the front of the house, warns that the home has been condemned and is set for demolition.

Reporter Valerie Kalfrin contributed to this report. Reporter Thomas W. Krause can be reached at (813) 259-7698 or tkrause@tampatrib.com.

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