Dogs sexually assaulted, videotaped - Tulsa, OK

Monday, Jun 23, 2008

County: Tulsa

Disposition: Convicted

Defendants/Suspects:
» Donald Roy Seigfried
» Diane Sue Whalen

Case Updates: 6 update(s) available

After authorities discovered more than 150 homemade movies of a "jawdropping" nature, a Tulsa County man and woman have been charged with committing crimes against nature, according to the Tulsa County Sheriff's office.

Donald Roy Seigfried, 55 and Diane Whalen, 54, were charged with the crime, which deals with bestiality, after deputies discovered dozens of videos of Whalen engaging in sex acts with three dogs, Captain John Bowman said.

Authorities were notified of the tapes, after one of the woman's relatives accidentally stumbled on one of the movies and then alerted the sheriff's department.

Authorities initially believed the tapes were being produced for commercial distribution, but now believe they were strictly for personal use.

The tapes, along with three dogs, a Labrador, a blue heeler and a mixed breed were also taken into custody and Bowman said his office is recommending that they be taken away from the suspects and be put down.

"To me, the biggest tragedy in the whole thing is that someone trained dogs do something against their nature, and those dogs may have to pay the ultimate price for the selfishness of their owners.

Euthanizing the dogs, however, is not a view that is shared by some animal activists.

Christy Counts, president of the Central Oklahoma Humane Society said she thinks the dogs could be rehabilitated.

"Certainly, if the animals aren't suffering, absolutely they shouldn't be euthanized. They should be put with a reputable organization" and given a new home," Counts said.

While working at Oklahoma City's animal shelter, Counts said she came across one bestiality case. The dog ran away from its new home because it became so distrusting of people after the incident, she said.

Seigfried was arrested and released on a $10,000 bond on Tuesday, and Bowman said Whalen had not yet been arrested but authorities were in contact with her lawyer.

Case Updates

A 56-year old Tulsa man pleaded no contest to a charge of crimes against nature in a bestiality case. Donald Seigfried and Diane Whalen were charged in June. Seigfried allegedly videotaped Whalen engaging in the act. Whalen received a five year suspended sentence and was ordered to have no custody or control of animals. Seigfried will be sentenced in January. The abused dogs were sent to a rehabilitation center in Utah earlier this year.

Source: News on 6 - Nov 18. 2008 Update posted on Nov 18, 2008 - 10:35AM

Diane Sue Whalen got a five-year suspended sentence Friday for a crime against nature, involving sex acts with dogs. District Judge William Kellough said ongoing psychological help is needed for Whalen, 55, who must register as a sex offender, have no contact with animals or her co-defendant, Donald Roy Siegfried, 55. She must pay $350 in fines and fees. She had pleaded no contest. Siegfried waived his right to a jury trial Monday and is to make a formal plea Nov. 17. Two of Whalen's dogs - a Lab and a Weimaraner - were ordered forfeited to the sheriff in civil court proceedings, which sent them to a rehabilitation center in Utah. Dogs are seen in videos engaging in sex acts with Whalen, according to an affidavit filed by sheriff's investigators. Deputies reported that in executing search warrants at the Siegfried and Whalen homes, they found a sex machine along with 119 other items such as dog booties, leashes, collars and dog cologne.

Source: The Oklahoman - Oct 29, 2008 Update posted on Oct 29, 2008 - 11:25PM

A man accused in a bestiality case has decided not to ask for a jury trial. Donald Roy Siegfried is charged with a crime against nature involving dogs engaging in sex with humans. He's scheduled to enter a formal plea on Nov. 17. At an earlier hearing Siegfried pleaded not guilty. Co-defendant Diane Sue Whalen has pleaded no contest and is to be sentenced Friday. Whalen's dogs -- a Labrador and a Weimaraner -- were forfeited to the sheriff and the dogs were sent to a rehabilitation center in Utah. Siegfried and Whalen each are free on bond and both face up to 10 years in prison.

Source: MyFox Dallas - Oct 13, 2008 Update posted on Oct 13, 2008 - 7:08PM

Two of three dogs involved in a bestiality case were sent Monday to a no-kill animal sanctuary in Utah, and the dogs' owners waived a preliminary hearing. The Tulsa County sheriff's office attempted to gain custody of the three animals after Diane Sue Whalen, 54, and Donald Roy Seigfried, 55, were accused of sexually abusing the animals. Seigfried is accused of videotaping Whalen, his girl-friend, performing sexual acts with the dogs. Whalen relinquished her dogs, Lucky and Cinnamon, but Seigfried has challenged the sheriff's office for custody of his blue heeler, Merlin. Both defendants are scheduled to be arraigned in district court Monday.

Source: NewsOK - Aug 5, 2008 Update posted on Aug 5, 2008 - 10:27AM

Two dogs involved in a Tulsa County bestiality case will have new lives at the nation's largest animal sanctuary. Barbara Williamson, media relations manager of Best Friends Animal Society in southern Utah, said Friday that the mixed breed and Labrador that formerly were owned by Diane Sue Whalen have been accepted by the no-kill animal sanctuary. Whalen forfeited the dogs to the Tulsa County's Sheriff's Office after agreeing with authorities in June that enough evidence existed to conclude that the dogs had been sexually abused. She and her boyfriend, Donald Roy Seigfried, are both charged with crimes against nature. Seigfried has not forfeited his dog, a blue heeler, and its fate is undecided. Authorities allege that Seigfried videotaped Whalen performing sex acts with the dogs, but he has denied any involvement in those activities and is trying to regain custody of his dog. Best Friends is the home of about 2,000 animals - mostly dogs and cats - on any given day. The animal sanctuary has an adoption rate of about 75 percent, and animals that are not adopted have a permanent home at the sanctuary. It is not known how soon the mixed breed and Labrador will be transported to Utah, Williamson said.

Source: Tula World - July 19, 2008 Update posted on Jul 19, 2008 - 8:53AM

The Tulsa County Sheriff's Office is backing off its recommendation that three dogs that are part of a bestiality case should be destroyed. Tulsa County residents Donald Roy Seigfried and Diane Whalen face felony charges of committing crimes against nature, the statute that deals with bestiality. Sheriff's officials at first said the animals appeared aggressive and should be put down. Animal rights groups argued that the dogs should be spared. Sheriff's Capt. John Bowman says the dogs will not be euthanized because of their status as victims in the alleged crime. The sheriff's office received evidence the dogs had been filmed dozens of times performing sex acts with a woman.

Source: News on 6 - July 3, 2008 Update posted on Jul 3, 2008 - 12:14PM

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