Mitchell Couple Facing Multiple Felony Neglect Charges After Search Warrant Uncovers Severe Living Conditions

Reported: June 17, 2026

A Mitchell husband and wife are facing multiple criminal counts—including three level 6 felonies for neglect—following a Mitchell Police Department investigation that began with a juvenile drug complaint and ended with the discovery of extreme living conditions inside a local residence.

Mary Andrews, 46, and Michael Andrews, 53, both of Mitchell, have been charged following a search warrant executed at their Dale Street home by local authorities.

The Initial Investigation

According to the official probable cause affidavit filed by Mitchell Police Officer Cody Blackwell, the investigation began on May 22, 2026. Local parents approached the police department after their 10-year-old son tested positive for marijuana on a home test kit.

When questioned by his parents, the child stated he had been threatened and forced to smoke marijuana by a 16-year-old juvenile at 340 Dale Street. The 10-year-old also provided officers with a detailed description of the interior of the home, alleging he saw a cardboard box in a closet containing approximately 50 small baggies of a green substance, a handgun case matching the description of a Glock case, and multiple glass smoking devices. The child was even able to point out specific examples of matching drug paraphernalia while at the police station.

The Execution of the Search Warrant

Armed with a signed search warrant based on the juvenile's testimony, Mitchell Police Officers Blackwell and Bailey, assisted by a Lawrence County Sheriff's Deputy and an Indiana State Police Trooper, descended on the Dale Street residence later that evening.

While clearing the home of its occupants—which included adults Mary and Michael Andrews and three juveniles—officers noted severe, hazardous environmental conditions throughout the entire structure:

Severe Contamination: Officer Blackwell documented a near-complete layer of animal feces covering the floors across the entire house, alongside heavy cockroach infestations on nearly every surface.
Plumbing Failures: Both bathrooms in the residence appeared to be completely non-functional and were filled with human waste, causing what officers described as an abhorrent odor.
Structural Obstructions: Navigating the home required officers to climb over massive piles of filthy clothing, cardboard boxes, and scattered furniture that blocked pathways.
Debris: A copious amount of discarded cigarettes packed into bottles and cups were strewn across nearly every available surface in the house.

Juvenile Rooms and Physical Evidence

When officers inspected the bedroom belonging to the 16-year-old, they noted it was heavily infested with cockroaches, scattered with unused prescription bottles, and contained animal feces on multiple surfaces. Several vapes were discovered hidden beneath a mattress that was missing roughly a third of its frame. A second bedroom, shared by two younger juveniles, was noted to be only mildly better, though used cigarettes were also recovered from inside that room.

While officers did not locate the bulk packaging of contraband or the specific handgun case described by the initial complainant, a loose firearm was found inside the home. Michael Andrews claimed to officers that the firearm went with him to work and was never left out of his sight.

Additionally, officers discovered roughly 7 to 10 animals living inside the unsanitary conditions, including three grown dogs, two puppies under two months old that could barely walk, and three grown cats, one of which was blind in one eye.

Charges and Agency Response

The Department of Child Services (DCS) was immediately contacted and met with the family at the scene that same evening to address the welfare of the children.

Following the investigation, formal charges were requested and filed against both Mary and Michael Andrews, including: