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A Lexington couple was arrested Thursday in an alleged child abuse case involving their adopted children that dates back to January 2010.

Police say Cheryl Christopher, 51, locked a nine-year-old child in a dog cage at the family's former home on Deauville Drive, and that she also allegedly tried to suffocate two children while trying to strangle them. The arrest report also says the Christopher forced the children to jump off the roof of the home.

Cheryl Christopher is charged with first-degree wanton endangerment, first-degree criminal abuse and first-degree unlawful imprisonment.

Christopher's husband, 69-year-old Elisha Christopher, is also charged with criminal abuse since police say he did not protect the kids or report the abuse by his wife.

LEX 18 talked with the couple's former neighbor, who says he wasn't aware of anything being wrong inside the home, but he thought what was going on outside was strange.

"They had 25 dogs and 25 cats," said the neighbor, Jim Menges. When asked if the number of animals seemed excessive, Menges replied, "Of course it did. The child used to complain that the mother was very rough on him. And she would demand that they take care of the dogs."

LEX 18 talked with the new owner of the home Friday, and he said Lexington Police took pictures of the some rooms inside the home Thursday, explaining the house was part of an ongoing investigation.

Investigators say the six children were removed from the couple's custody following the allegations and the Christophers were ordered not to have custody of any other kids. However, officials tell LEX 18, when the two were arrested, four of their grandchildren were living in the home.

Both Cheryl and Elisa Christopher were in court Friday afternoon for arraignment. They entered "not guilty" pleas and are expected back in court next Thursday morning.