Four dogs dead in maggot-infested home
Evansville, IN (US)Incident Date: Saturday, Oct 23, 2010
County: Vanderburgh
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Latiese Reed
It's a secret that wasn't very hidden.
Authorities arrived at this house in the 1600 block of Morton Avenue in Evansville. According to a report, officers looked into this front window and saw two dog kennels. Locked inside each -- two dogs, both dead.
So the officers went in. "They entered the residence through an open window to check on the welfare of anybody who possibly might be inside or any other animals. And they found two additional dogs in the basement of the house," says Sergeant Josh Wittmer of the EPD.
Police say all the dogs looked starved and dehydrated. In the basement, it appeared that one dog had tried to eat the other. And the house was crawling with maggots and fleas.
Police later identified the renter of the property as Latiese Reed. She's been charged with animal cruelty, abandonment and neglect. Police say she's abandoned the home -- and the dogs -- for some time. "The animal control officer on the scene believed that they were there for about two months," says Wittmer.
Neighbors didn't wish to appear on camera. They say they barely knew Reed. And they say they can't believe anyone would let something like this happen.
"They don't necessarily need to just leave them to suffer like that. I mean, there's plenty of people that will take them and care for them and try to find them a good home," says Wittmer.
Reed's next door neighbors say they haven't seen any signs of her -- not since the lights were shut off. The owner of the home says Reed has kept up with rent but hasn't paid utilities in several months. Police have talked with relatives to try and locate her, but they say they don't know where she is. References« Back to Search Results
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