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Kevin Connolly, 39, and Amanda Aulito, 33, were arrested on Monday, July 3 and remanded in lieu of $10,000 bail, according to the Monroe County District Attorney's Office and state court records.
The investigation began when county detectives paid a visit to their Colt Lane home on an unrelated matter to " make contact with Amanda Aulito," the DA's Office said.
As they approached the home, police said they "could smell a very foul odor coming from the home," heard "several" dogs barking, and noticed "debris" outside.
When Connolly answered the door, authorities claimed he "quickly closed (it) behind him in an attempt to prevent detectives from seeing inside."
He told them that his two children were not home, and then asked to go back inside to get his cell phone, according to the release. Instead, police said he went in and tried to "remove his 9-year-old daughter from the home by having her climb over a pile of garbage."
Connolly allegedly told the officers his 14-year-old son was at a friend's house, but authorities say the boy walked out the front door while they were still speaking with his father.
"Amanda Aulito, the mother of the two children, arrived home to find Connolly in handcuffs," the DA's Office said.
After the pair consented to a search of the home, detectives declared it "unlivable and in deplorable condition." There was no "edible food" in the residence for the children or the dogs, they claimed.
Each is charged with endangering the welfare of children, animal cruelty, recklessly endangering another person, conspiracy, and related counts.
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