Children don’t get to choose their parents or the life they will have when they are young. We hope that parents will take their job seriously and nurture their children in a loving home, but sadly, that’s not always the case. We often hear about children living in horrible conditions with adults who just don’t seem to care. Child Protective Services can be a godsend for these kids. They certainly were for a West Virginia family reportedly living in filth.
CPS contacted the Preston County Sheriff’s Office in September 2025 regarding a home in Terra Alta infested with bedbugs, according to court documents obtained by WBOY. Rita Andrews, 42, and John Andrews, 44, lived in the apartment with their children. When deputies arrived, they rang the doorbell, but no one answered. Police noted smelling “ammonia” on the outside of the door, which is “consistent with dogs relieving themselves in an enclosed location.”
A neighbor came out and reportedly told deputies that the smell was coming from inside the residence. The neighbor added, “The whole apartment building was infested with bed bugs because of the Andrews’ apartment.” Police ultimately made contact with the parents and entered the home.
The children appeared very thin, WDTV reported. John Andrews and Rita Andrews’ bodies showed signs of drug abuse. Both had missing teeth, sunken eyes, ashy gray skin, and looked thin. Deputies arrested the couple, and they were booked into Tygart Valley Regional Jail.
Prosecutors charged them each with three counts of child abuse or gross neglect by a parent. John Andrews has a $15,000 bond, but Rita Andrews has no set bond.
Following the couple’s arrest, Rita Andrews’ sister, Sarah Kotzbauer, posted on Facebook asking people not to judge the children based on their parents’ mistakes.
“I think everyone needs to see this and hopefully understand. Rita Andrews is my sister and she’s married to David (john). Now did they do wrong? Absolutely. I’m not debating that. At all. There’s no excuse for it. And their kids deserve better than that,” Kotzbauer wrote in her post.
“I’m just saying guys, these are kids that you don’t know that you’re dragging through the dirt. And also you’re breaking my moms heart. Every time you turn around, something else is said,” she added. “Let me say this OK? I know the situation is bad. All I’m asking is to just let it alone and let the proper people handle it. The kids are fine right now. They’re with my mom and dad who take very good care of them.”
In the comments, Kotzbauer admitted this wasn’t the first time the children had been taken by CPS and that they likely will be reunited with their parents soon.
These poor children didn’t choose the life they have. Hopefully, this time things will change with John and Rita Andrews and how they care for them. Maybe their mother, who lists her work on Facebook as “Being Sick & Sadistic,” will realize her children deserve a mom who is “well & loving” instead and meets their basic needs.
