Mother arrested after 5 children found living in filthy home with dead grandfather

A couple has been arrested and charged with child abuse after their five children were discovered living in a filthy home with their dead grandfather inside.

But Melissa Poole and Jeremy Dishner say their children were never in danger, even though there was raw sewage under the home, spoiled food and debris inside, and authorities say Poole's father had been deceased for more than 24 hours when his body was discovered.

"Even a social worker said we did not abuse our kids," Poole told Charlotte, North Carolina affiliate WSOC-TV. "That's why they didn't take our kids."

Poole says her kids would often take food to their grandfather, but she would have never allowed them in his room if she had known he was dead. She says her kids had been sick with the flu recently and that's why things weren't being taken care of around the house.

"I feel like I'm getting accused of being a bad mom for worrying about my kids rather than my house," she said.

The home has been deemed unsafe to occupy. A magistrate's order obtained by WSOC-TV says debris was piled up on the floors throughout the house.

Poole and Dishner are scheduled to appear in court next month on misdemeanor child abuse charges.