Maud couple accused of child endangerment, animal cruelty after investigation

TEXARKANA, Texas — A Maud couple has been arrested after a Bowie County Sheriff's Office investigation found an infant living in unsanitary conditions alongside numerous neglected animals, authorities said.

Thomas Wayne Pipkins, 42, and Raquel Elizabeth Marra, 26, both of Maud, are each charged with one count of abandoning or endangering a child and 13 counts of cruelty to non-livestock animals.

The investigation began after the Bowie County Sheriff's Office received multiple complaints about mistreated animals at a home on Church Street in Maud.

According to the sheriff's office, Pipkins and Marra told deputies the dogs were rescue animals that were being treated for worms. During subsequent visits, deputies said the pair continued to offer explanations for the animals' poor condition while refusing to allow access to animals being kept inside the home.

At the same time, Texas Child Protective Services was investigating allegations of child neglect at the residence. During that investigation, CPS notified the sheriff's office about what it described as deplorable living conditions and the mistreatment of five dogs and numerous cats. The agency also provided investigators with photographs of the animals.

Sheriff's office investigator Michelle Alexander later obtained a search warrant for the home.

Investigators reported finding animal urine, feces and vomit throughout the house. Authorities said the animals appeared emaciated and in obvious medical distress. All of the animals were removed from the home and taken to a local veterinarian, where examinations confirmed signs of neglect, according to the sheriff's office.

The child neglect investigation also found the infant living in unsanitary conditions with little to no food available, authorities said. Investigators allege the child continued to lose weight because of inadequate feeding and was later hospitalized with concerns of failure to thrive.

According to the sheriff's office, a pediatric nurse practitioner documented that the infant suffered from moderate malnutrition, resulting in "observable physical defects, including low thyroid level and intermittent slow heart rate...consistent with child physical neglect."

Investigators also reported finding several new electronic items throughout the home, including large televisions, gaming consoles, a countertop ice maker, Wi-Fi equipment and cellular phones.

Bond for each defendant was set at $50,000 on the child endangerment charge and $20,000 on each of the 13 animal cruelty charges, for a total bond of $310,000 apiece.