KNOXVILLE, TN - A mom and dad have been arrested after allegedly forcing their seven kids to live in "very deplorable and uninhabitable conditions" inside their home.
On Tuesday, July 29th, Knox County 911 received a report of two small children standing in the wood line unattended in the 3000 block of Clear Springs Road, according to a Facebook post by the Knox County Sheriff's Office (KCSO).
Deputies determined that the children, both approximately six-years-old, were living in a nearby residence.
Deputies and the Family Crimes Unit detectives made contact with the children's parents and during their investigation, determined that there were a total of seven children residing in the home in what investigators described as deplorable conditions.
The children, ages ranging from one-month-old to seven-years-old, were taken to East Tennessee Children's Hospital to be checked out. After completing their initial investigation, detectives arrested both parents, 27-year-old Jason Hoffer and 28-year-old Amber Hoffer.
They were taken into custody on Tuesday evening and are facing multiple charges. Jason Hoffer is facing one count of child endangerment and one count of aggravated child abuse.
Amber Hoffer is facing two counts of child endangerment. According to the arrest warrants, one of the two children out in the wood line had severe bruising on his leg while both said they were hungry and had not eaten in a while.
Investigators discovered "very deplorable and inhabitable conditions" inside the home, police reported.
Trash covered the floor and feces were smeared all over the walls and sink. During an interview, one of the boys reportedly told police that his father would make him stay inside a dog cage in the middle of the living room.
When the boy misbehaved, Jason Hoffer would allegedly lock the crate and beat him with a metal pole through the cage. The boy suffered "severe welts."
Police said the child escaped and ran out of the home, which is what sparked the investigation and arrests of both parents.
Upon searching the home, police found the dog cage and noted that the family did not have any pets. As of Sunday, August 3rd, Jason Hoffer remained in the Knox County Jail on a $55,000 bond. Amber has since posted her bail.
The Department of Children Services removed the seven kids from the home. The investigation remains ongoing.
On Tuesday, July 29th, Knox County 911 received a report of two small children standing in the wood line unattended in the 3000 block of Clear Springs Road, according to a Facebook post by the Knox County Sheriff's Office (KCSO).
Deputies determined that the children, both approximately six-years-old, were living in a nearby residence.
Deputies and the Family Crimes Unit detectives made contact with the children's parents and during their investigation, determined that there were a total of seven children residing in the home in what investigators described as deplorable conditions.
The children, ages ranging from one-month-old to seven-years-old, were taken to East Tennessee Children's Hospital to be checked out. After completing their initial investigation, detectives arrested both parents, 27-year-old Jason Hoffer and 28-year-old Amber Hoffer.
They were taken into custody on Tuesday evening and are facing multiple charges. Jason Hoffer is facing one count of child endangerment and one count of aggravated child abuse.
Amber Hoffer is facing two counts of child endangerment. According to the arrest warrants, one of the two children out in the wood line had severe bruising on his leg while both said they were hungry and had not eaten in a while.
Investigators discovered "very deplorable and inhabitable conditions" inside the home, police reported.
Trash covered the floor and feces were smeared all over the walls and sink. During an interview, one of the boys reportedly told police that his father would make him stay inside a dog cage in the middle of the living room.
When the boy misbehaved, Jason Hoffer would allegedly lock the crate and beat him with a metal pole through the cage. The boy suffered "severe welts."
Police said the child escaped and ran out of the home, which is what sparked the investigation and arrests of both parents.
Upon searching the home, police found the dog cage and noted that the family did not have any pets. As of Sunday, August 3rd, Jason Hoffer remained in the Knox County Jail on a $55,000 bond. Amber has since posted her bail.
The Department of Children Services removed the seven kids from the home. The investigation remains ongoing.
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Comments
2025-08-08T09:34-0400 | Comment by: Clint
For these young victims, the journey of recovery has begun. May our Father watch over them and heal their physical and mental wounds.
2025-08-15T15:31-0400 | Comment by: Laurence
Such worthless people should never be allowed to raise animals, let alone human children. Put the kids in good foster homes, and toss the evil parents in prison for 10 years or so.