Hoarding - 18 cat skeletons found in home Porterdale, GA (US)Incident Date: Friday, Nov 19, 2004 County: Newton Local Map: available Disposition: Convicted
Abusers/Suspects: » Melissa Payne » Aleix Thomas
|
|
A Newton County couple face felony animal cruelty charges after deputies discovered the skeletons of 18 cats in their house. Melissa Payne, 28, and Aleix Thomas, 32, were free on $15,000 bond Nov 20, 2004 after their arrest.
Deputies were serving an eviction notice at the couple's rented Porderdale home when they noticed a horrible smell and decided to look around, authorities said.
What they found prompted them to declare the house uninhabitable.
"Bugs, fleas, feces, food, clothes, everything just all over the place," said David Jones, Newton County Sheriff's Office investigator.
Locked in a back room with tape sealing the door were the skeletons of 18 cats. They allegedly had no food or water.
"Cats were eating the other cats," Jones said.
Neighbors said they hardly knew the couple, although Payne and Thomas had lived in the home for some time.
"I never saw a light on at night," neighbor Christie Beal said. "I never saw either one of them come in or out of the house. And I saw both of them when they were arrested, and I'd never seen them in my life."
Both face 18 counts of felony cruelty to animals.
Contact information for District Attorney Ken Wynne:
The Honorable Ken Wynne Newton County District Attorney 1132 Usher St., Rm. 313 Covington, GA 30014 Neighborhood MapFor more information about the Interactive Animal Cruelty Maps, see the map notes.
Back to Top References« GA State Animal Cruelty Map
|