Three adults were arrested Thursday in the Canaan community and two children, 2 and 4-years-old, were taken into protective custody for placement by Family Services due to unsafe conditions in the home.

Gasconade County Sheriff Scott Eiler issued a release Friday stating deputies from his staff and the Lake Area Narcotics Enforcement Group (LANEG) executed a search warrant in the 3700 block of Maple Street related to drug activity at the home of Alyssa N. May, 26, and Jack D. Saebens, 31, early that morning.

Seized during the search were capsules of fentanyl, methamphetamine, marijuana wax and items of drug paraphernalia.

Conditions in the residence were “deemed unfit and Division of Family Services (DFS) responded to the scene and removed two children from the home for placement,” according to Eiler. 

May and Saebens were arrested at the scene and transported to the Osage County Jail in Linn pending a warrant application being sought.

Another female, identified as Tessa M. Coonrad, of Bland, was also arrested.

May was charged in a Gasconade County felony warrant alleging a class D count of possession of a controlled substance and two counts of the class D felony abuse or neglect of a child without sexual contact. She was also charged with a class D misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Saebens was charged with two counts of felony D abuse or neglect of a child without sexual contact.

Coonrod was charged with the D felony alleging possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, a class A misdemeanor.

According to the probable cause statement filed by a LANEG narcotics officer as the application for the warrant, lawmen recovered substances including marijuana, THC wax, methamphetamine, and fentanyl from the home. Several of the narcotics were located on the back of the bathroom toilet “which was easily accessible to May’s and Saebens’ two young children.”

Lawmen also recovered an “uncapped syringe laying in the driveway nearby the front yard of the residence where the children appeared to play frequently.”

The drug task force officer noted in the PC statement “the inside of the house was kept in disarray.” There were pieces of furniture in floor, mold inside the refrigerator, unkept dishes including children’s cups and clothing strewn about. 

“Both children had poor hygiene including matted hair, dirty feet, arms and leg,” and were reportedly “unclothed,” had “numerous insect bites, and were wearing dirty diapers.”

And, the officer noted, “It was also reported the children hadn’t eaten since the previous day.”

The LANEG officer’s report noted a sheriff’s deputy contacted Family Services staff and secured legal documents to place them in protective services.

Charges against Coonrod stem from a traffic stop made during a surveillance of May’s and Saebens’ residence conducted by two LANEG officers earlier that morning.

According to the PC statement, at around 7 a.m., lawmen pulled in front of May’s vehicle on Oak Street as she and Coonrod were driving away from May’s residence. May “abruptly accelerated her vehicle” in the direction of the officers, both in plain clothes with sidearms in holsters and their badges displayed on lanyards. 

Both officers drew their weapons and May came to a stop, according to the PC statement.

Both women consented to a search of the vehicle and their persons prior to even being asked, the reported noted. Both claimed possession of their respective purses.

Coonrod allegedly was in possession of a pipe used to smoke meth and a capsule of suspected fentanyl. Seized items were being submitted to the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s crime lab for further analysis.

Coonrod had a $3,500 cash or surety bond posted on her behalf. She is scheduled for an initial court appearance in Gasconade County Associate Circuit Court at 9 a.m. June 29.

May appeared before Associate Circuit Judge Ada Brehe-Krueger on Friday and a not guilty plea was entered on her behalf during the arraignment hearing. Her case was continued until 9 a.m. June 29 for a bond review and counsel status hearing. Her bond was set at $5,000 cash or surety.

Saebens also has a $5,000 cash or surety bond set on his warrant. He also appeared in custody Friday and had a not guilty plea entered for him during the arraignment hearing. His case is also continued until the June 29 morning docket for review of his bond and counsel status.

Neither had an attorney listed for them as of Tuesday.