HIGHLAND Utah (ABC 4 News) – A mother, daughter and the teen’s boyfriend will be spending Thanksgiving in jail.
And the mother’s two younger children have been removed from the home.
Lone Peak police arrested Andrea Richards after obtaining a search warrant and finding evidence of “meth and heroin” at the home.
Richards' 19-year old daughter was also booked into the Utah County jail on drug possession along with her boyfriend Rocky Richards (no relation).
“When Rocky came to the house things changed,” says a neighbor who didn’t want to be identified.
The neighbor knew the Richards were trouble after entering their home to make a repair.
“I had to go into do something with the thermostat one time and I noticed some torches and burned spoons,” says the neighbor. “I did think that kind of stuff was going on.”
According to court documents, police got a tip from the landlord. When they busted the trio, police also found evidence of drug paraphernalia scattered throughout the house.
Police described the house as "having a strong chemical odor" and the place was strewn with clothes, trash, old food and extremely unkempt."
“Sometimes it smelled like cigarette smoke and then it was a different type of smoke,” said another neighbor who didn’t want to be identified. “Other times is smelled disgusting.”
Police claim the meth and heroin was left in the open and easily accessible to Richards' two young children.
At the time of the arrest, police claim Andrea Richards was evasive and confused. Rocky was combative and smelled of meth and Caroline slept through the raid but later woke up and was confused and disoriented.
“It’s sad,” said a neighbor. “(It’s) pretty sad for all kids involved.”
Even though the house was a complete mess, police say the cleanest room belonged to the children. A neighbor says the two young children are now living with their biological father.
