A motel in Holiday was hit with a number of code violations as well as the prospect of future inspections on Wednesday after Pasco County deputies came in contact with a couple living in conditions they called uninhabitable.

  • Crystal Inn Motel on U.S. 19 in Holiday
  • Pasco deputies hit owners with trash and junk citation, code violations
  • Re-inspections for motel likely

Kimberly and Edward Hunt pay $929.00 a month to live in a 12 x 12 space at the Crystal Inn Motel. That space, they said, has them worried about their safety due to the multitude of problems inside that aren't getting fixed.

"I worry about the electrical, the way the electric’s set up here and the plugs,” said Kimberly Hunt. “I mean, I worry about if there’s a fire, there’s not a fire alarm, the burners on the stove not working."

Compounding the issue the Hunts face with all their living space's ongoing problems is the fact that Edward is disabled.

"He can’t get in the shower, because, you know, if he does that he’ll fall over and go through the plastic they have for the shower,” said Kimberly.

"I wash my hair in the sink because I can’t stand in the shower," said Edward.

The Hunt's son, Daniel, lives in a different room in the motel, but had similar observations about the conditions.

"There’s bedbugs, cockroaches, they don’t really clean the sheets," said Daniel. "It's just disgusting, they charge too much."

Crystal Inn Motel owner Kelly Patel told us she was trying to help the couple by giving them a place to stay.

"They don’t like, they has [sic] to move,” said Patel. “Nothing wrong with me."

The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, however, disagrees.  

"As a fellow human being, to see someone that is that vulnerable and that weak in that kind of condition and suffering the way this individual was suffering, obviously your heart is broken," said Pasco Sheriff's Office Corporal Alan Wilkett.

The motel received a trash and junk citation, and additional code violations are pending as inspections continue.

“It’s going to require us to go back on multiple occasions to do re-inspections,” said Wilkett. "Fire is going to have some issues there, Building Inspection had some issues there, Code Enforcement has issues and we have issues there."

By the time deputies left the property on Wednesday, the owners said the Hunts would be moved to a different room for the same rent. Previously, they'd been told a new room would cost them more money.

In addition, deputies will make sure their new room is in good working order.

As for the Hunts themselves, they said they have nowhere else to go.

"Fix things up," said Kimberly. "I mean, because there’s so many violations, people can get hurt."

The Sheriff’s Office also connected the couple with resources to help with food and medical needs.

Next Level Church is helping the family and if you'd like to help you can donate to the church and include the Hunt family in the comment section.