(KCEN) -- A moving truck from Indiana headed to California was filled with a dozen boxes, more half a dozen kids and nearly two dozen cats all stuffed inside.
State troopers found the kids in the moving truck cramped in with boxes, sleeping bags and stuffed animals.
It was 25 degrees outside and the back of the truck had no heat.
Five siblings were in the back and two others were in the front of the truck with their parents.
David and Rebecca Detjen were taken to the Henry County Jail on preliminary charges of neglect of a dependent.
The seven kids were handed over to Child Protective Services.
Indiana State Police Officer John Bowling said, "A couple of the kids were actually on very top of stacks of boxes. When Nick raised the back of truck, there were two smaller children actually in sleeping bags on top of boxes."
Police also found 18 cats in the truck.
They were taken to the Humane Society.
Police say the family was headed to California, looking for a better life.
