Animals abandoned, resort to cannibalism
Six Lakes, MI (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Mar 19, 2008
County: Montcalm
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 2 files available
Alleged:
» Theresa Schumacher
» Michael Schumacher - Convicted
Case Updates: 7 update(s) available
Montcalm County investigators are looking into a gruesome discovery at an abandoned home in Six Lakes.
A neighbor contacted WZZM 13 with pictures of dead dogs, pigs and sheep; some eaten to the bone.
Today, Animal Control officers removed one live dog from the house and carried off the remains of several other animals.
A check of county records shows the home, previously owned by Michael and Theresa Schumacher, was sold in a foreclosure sale on January 31st.
Once Animal Control officers complete their investigation, the case will be forwarded to the prosecutors office who will decide if charges will be pursued against the former owners.
Case UpdatesA Montcalm County man will spend 25 days in jail for animal cruelty.
In March, authorities found a number of dead animals inside and outside the Six Lakes home of Michael Schumacher.
He pleaded guilty June 10 to one count of animals abandoning cruelty. Three other counts were dismissed with the plea.
He was sentenced Monday to 25 days in jail or community service at either the Montcalm County or Ionia County animal shelter, six months probation, and has to pay $1,180 in fines and court costs.
Charges are pending against Schumacher's ex-wife, Theresa, who also lived at that home. They later lost the home to foreclosure. | Source: WOOD-TV - July 7, 2008
Update posted on Jul 8, 2008 - 1:01AM |
Police in Montcalm County today have arrest warrants for two people, who prosecutors say are responsible for the abuse and neglect of animals at a Six Lakes home.
Misdemeanor warrants are out for the previous owners of the home on Derby Road. In March, the remains of several animals were found at the home, including dogs, sheep, and pigs.
Four dogs were recovered alive from the home in March. All four were adopted out, but one later had to be put down because of the seriousness of its health problems.
WZZM 13 News previously focused on one dog, Taz, and the family that adopted him.
A check of county records shows the home, previously owned by Michael and Theresa Schumacher, was sold in a foreclosure sale on January 31st. | Source: WZZM - May 9, 2008
Update posted on May 9, 2008 - 4:48PM |
Seven puppies are now in safe new homes after living in a single apartment rented by Theresa Schumacher and boyfriend Andrew Snyder. The Ionia Department of Public Safety performed a wellness check Friday, April 4 after receiving tips that something might be afoul in the Eagle's Nest complex.
�There was not enough room for the people and the puppies,� said Ionia County Animal Control officer Gordon Douglas, who received a call from the DPS Friday for assistance on the matter. �The pups were taken to a shelter and all have been adopted to new homes. It didn't take long at all.�
Read more here. | | Update posted on Apr 8, 2008 - 12:27PM |
The same Montcalm County house where five dead animals were found last week was in utter disarray on the inside. Court documents obtained by 24 Hour News 8 showed three boys, between nine and 13 years old, lived at the house of Michael and Theresa Schumacher.
The condition of the home's interior, in the 9000 block of N. Derby Road, prompted sheriff's deputies to call Child Protective Services.
Neighbors said the family kept a number of dogs in the home, and that canine fecal matter was scattered throughout. One photo showed a child's bed with a cat litter box on top.
The abandoned home was foreclosed on in January.
The Montcalm County Prosecutor's Office is currently reviewing the animal abuse portion of this case, and weighing charges against the Schumachers of animal abuse or animal neglect. The couple is now separated.
Child Protective Services will not comment on whether it's investigating because of confidentiality. | Source: WOODT-TV - March 27, 2008
Update posted on Mar 27, 2008 - 5:01PM |
The Montcalm County Sheriff's Office hopes to complete its investigation and submit a report to County Prosecutor Andrea Krause this week on an animal cruelty investigation in Six Lakes.
Undersheriff Bill Burden said Wednesday that " a few things" remain to be completed before the investigation is wrapped up into the incident one week ago today at 9074 N. Derby Road. Last Thursday deputies and County Animal Control officers removed one live dog and the carcasses of two dogs, a goat and a pig from the residence.
Meanwhile, County Controller-Administrator Chris Hyzer still is assembling a timeline of when animal control officers and other agencies responded to the address.
Neighbors reported the animals hadn't been fed for weeks. Some of the dead dogs had been partially eaten by other dogs.
Animal control also removed three live dogs from the same address earlier this month. | Source: The Daily News - March 27, 2008
Update posted on Mar 27, 2008 - 12:08PM |
A man who lived at a Montcalm County home where dozens of animals were found neglected, starved, and dead admits it is unacceptable.
"Disgusting," says Michael Schumacher. "Very."
31-year-old Schumacher says he moved away from the home in Six Lakes a month ago when he and his wife, Theresa separated.
"I have not lived there for a month," says Schumacher.
Theresa Schumacher has now also moved from the property. Neighbors say the animal cruelty problem goes back years.
They say dogs, cats, pigs, goats and chickens were allowed to suffer and starve to death on the Schumacher property.
"We got dead animals everywhere," says neighbor Dorothy Byrne. "This has been going on for a long time."
A team from the sheriff's department and animal rescue rounded up carcasses and animal skeletons from the property. In one instance a dog was found died still chained to a stake.
"I feel just like anyone else," says Schumacher. "There is no reason for an animal to suffer."
Deputies will send their report on the property to the county prosecutor. She will decide if the Schumacher's will be charged with a crime.
"There are misdemeanor crimes and felony crimes for killing animals, torture and not caring for animals," says prosecutor Andrea Krause.
The Montcalm County Animal Control Department is reorganizing under a new director. A spokesman says that may explain why there was not an earlier response to complaints about cruelty on the property. | Source: WZZM - March 21, 2008
Update posted on Mar 21, 2008 - 9:16AM |
There is new information about an alleged case of animal cruelty in Montcalm County. Thursday morning, there were four dogs at the Montcalm County Animal Shelter. Three of them had been taken from the home in the 9000 block of Derby Street in Six Lakes that we told you about yesterday where several dead animals had been removed. Those three had been taken in earlier this month and another dog was rescued Wednesday afternoon.
WZZM 13 News went looking for answers after neighbors say they tried to tell authorities months ago about what was going on.
Deborah Byrne says she called several different agencies, but got no action. Bill Burden, the Montcalm Co. Undersheriff says, "This is the first we've heard of it."
Burden dispatched an officer as soon as he was made aware of the problem. He says the call should have been handled by Montcalm County Animal Control.
"Currently, they're in a transition phase. Their director is no longer there and it probably broke down there," said Burden.
The person temporarily in charge of Montcalm County Animal Control is County Controller Chris Hyzer. "Right now, we're in the process of reviewing all the documentation that Animal Control has received and right now the last thing that I found, was March 1st."
That's when Animal Control removed some of the dogs, but the snow was deep and Hyzer suspects they didn't see all the carcasses around the home.
County Prosecutor Andrea Krause says they take animal cruelty cases seriously. "Absolutely, there are misdemeanor and felony charges for killing or not caring for your animals," said Krause.
The investigation continues and will be handed over to the Prosecutor's office for review.
As for the dogs at the shelter, they will be up for adoption when the case is complete. | Source: WZZM - March 21, 2008
Update posted on Mar 21, 2008 - 2:11AM |
References« MI State Animal Cruelty Map
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