Hoarding - 20 cats found dead in abandoned house
Appleton, WI (US)Incident Date: Tuesday, Sep 23, 2008
County: Outagamie
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Dismissed
Person of Interest: Lorie A. Kuehl
Case Updates: 2 update(s) available
A Menasha woman has been charged with felony animal abuse after a landlord found the skeletons of approximately 20 cats in an Appleton home she had rented.
Lorie A. Kuehl, 41, Fritsch St., Menasha was charged Friday [March 27, 2009] in Outagamie County Court with five counts of mistreatment of animals causing death, failure to supply food and drink to confined animals and failure to provide proper shelter.
Kuehl's landlord called investigators in January after he entered the Mason Street home she had abandoned. He found piles of animal feces, clumps of fur and the skeletal remains of several cats, some in a plastic garbage bag.
Investigators discovered the remains of other dead cats, including a garbage bag found with the skeletal remains of multiple animals. They said there was no water or food available in the home.
When police interviewed Kuehl, she told them she took in stray cats, and about three litters were born while she lived in the home.
Kuehl abandoned the home in September when the male cats became aggressive, and told police she returned periodically to feed them before stopping the visits. When she returned in October, the cats were dead, she said.
She told investigators it appeared the cats had "got at each other" and "it just made me sick that I could have let that happen." She also said the last few months had been a "blur" because she had been drinking heavily.
An initial appearance is scheduled for April 23.
Case UpdatesOutagamie County prosecutors on Monday dismissed an animal cruelty case after a judge’s decision to toss the results of a home search left them without sufficient evidence to prove the crimes.
Michael Petersen, defense attorney for Lorie A. Kuehl, said the state’s motion to dismiss nine criminal counts against his client was filed today.
“The lack of evidence would have made it difficult for them to go on,” he said.
Judge Nancy Krueger last month ruled in favor of a defense motion to suppress evidence. Kuehl’s charges included five felonies for mistreatment of animals causing death.
Krueger said police should have sought a search warrant before entering the home on Mason Street in Appleton.
By failing to get a search warrant, officers violated Kuehl’s Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable search and seizure, Krueger wrote.
"A warrant could have been obtained with only a few hours delay," she wrote.
Assistant Dist. Atty. Kyle Sargent couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.
The case began when an Appleton health inspector received an anonymous tip claiming dead cats and feces littered Kuehl’s house. He set up an appointment with Kuehl and her landlord. Kuehl, who was no longer maintaining the home as her primary residence, didn't show up.
The inspector and landlord entered the house, and found piles of animal feces, clumps of fur and the skeletal remains of several cats. The inspector summoned police.
Investigators entered and discovered the remains of other dead cats, including a garbage bag found with the skeletal remains of multiple animals. They said no water or food were available in the house.
Prosecutors argued Kuehl had abandoned the property and therefore police needed no warrant.
“The defendant has not established that she had a reasonable expectation of privacy in the dwelling, which she had severely neglected and was uninhabitable at the time of the search,” Sargent wrote.
Krueger said Kuehl kept furniture and clothing there and continued to collect mail at the house.
“The court finds that she had not abandoned the property and had an expectation of privacy in the apartment, which is recognized by society,” Krueger wrote. | Source: PostCrescent.com - Aug 30, 2010
Update posted on Aug 30, 2010 - 2:55PM |
A $5,000 bond has been set for a Menasha woman who rented an apartment where the skeletons of approximately 20 cats were found.
Lorie A. Kuehl, 41, 1789 Fritsch St., also was ordered not to possess any animals when she appeared before Outagamie County Court Commissioner Brian Figy on five counts of mistreatment of animals causing death, failure to supply food and drink to confined animals and failure to provide proper shelter.
Kuehl's landlord called investigators in January after he entered the Mason Street home in Appleton that she had abandoned, and said he found piles of animal feces, clumps of fur and the skeletal remains of several cats, some in a plastic garbage bag.
Investigators discovered the remains of other dead cats, including a garbage bag found with the skeletal remains of multiple animals. They said no water or food were available in the home.
When police interviewed Kuehl, she told them she took in stray cats, and about three litters were born while she lived in the home.
She said she abandoned the home in September when the male cats became aggressive, and told police she returned periodically to feed them before stopping the visits. When she returned in October, the cats were dead, she said.
She also said the last few months had been a "blur" because she had been drinking heavily.
A preliminary hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to proceed with the felony charges will be scheduled.
Kuehl's bond requires only a signature, but if she does not appear in court she could be ordered to pay $5,000. | Source: Post Crescent - April 24, 2009
Update posted on Apr 27, 2009 - 1:53AM |
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