Hoarding - over 50 dogs and cats, 38 found dead
Mexico, IN (US)Date: Apr 6, 2005
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Carla C. Randolph
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A Peru woman remained in jail on April 7 on a $433,000 cash bond as animal control officers were setting live traps for more cats found in her home. Carla C. Randolph, 52, of W. Old Stone Road, was jailed April 6 after officers learned she had stored both live and dead cats in the home of a couple she was house-sitting for in Mexico.
The nearly ruined home was discovered when the couple's daughter from out of town went to her parents' home for a necklace. She discovered cats and fecal matter all through the house, as well as dead cats being stored in the kitchen's refrigerator and freezer.
Police obtained a search warrant for Randolph's home as well, after she told them there could be as many as 100 more cats and dogs in her own home.
One hundred and 10 animals, dead and alive, were taken from the two homes, and Randolph was charged with 110 counts of animal neglect, theft and criminal mischief.
On Thursday, Ken Scott, Miami County environmental health specialist, and Peru Building Commissioner Tom Harp both went to Randolph's Old Stone Road home to put a placard on the building forbidding people to occupy it until it can be cleaned and reinspected.
When the two opened the front door of the home, they found as many as 35 more cats sitting in the living room of the home. The animals, according to Scott, could have been hiding in the home's duct work while animal control officers were removing animals from the home on Wednesday.
Joe Dickerhoff, Miami County animal control officer, reported Thursday afternoon he would be placing live traps in the home to catch the remaining 35 live cats still residing there.
He said he would check the traps frequently and take the animals to the Miami County shelter, where all the other animals have been taken for quarantine.
Dickerhoff said he was making arrangements at the request of Miami County Prosecutor Eric Huneryager to have a veterinarian check the health of all the animals and determine if any of them can be saved.
Scott said by state law he is required to declare both homes unfit to live in.
"The unsanitary living conditions necessitated the placards," Scott said from his office Thursday. "The home in Mexico can probably be professionally cleaned and salvaged, but I have questions in my mind if the Old Stone Road home can be cleaned or salvaged. There are numerous things that can cause disease in the homes, making them uninhabitable."
Scott was present at both homes with police on Wednesday and took photos of each of the animals as they were rescued from the home, as well as the conditions of the homes.
The basement of the home in Mexico, which belonged to Paul and Eve Bevelhimer, was completely covered with cat feces.
At Randolph's Old Stone Road home, the basement had a four-inch layer of fecal matter on the floor. The mess also covered the entire upstairs of the home.
Scott said the amount of ammonia build-up in the home was so great that police and animal control officers had to wait for the Peru Fire Department to ventilate the home before they could enter safely.
He also checked with Peru Township Trustee Louise Comerford Thursday who reported she had no records of Randolph purchasing dog tags for any of the seven dogs taken from the home, or any other dogs during the past year.
Scott said he would be sending each property owner, the Bevelhimers and Randolph, a letter explaining they would be barred from living in their homes until they can be cleaned and inspected. References« Back to Search Results Note: Classifications and other fields should not be used to determine what specific charges the suspect is facing or was convicted of - they are for research and statistical purposes only. The case report and subsequent updates outline the specific charges. Charges referenced in the original case report may be modified throughout the course of the investigation or trial, so case updates, when available, should always be considered the most accurate reflection of charges. For more information regarding classifications and usage of this database, please visit the database notes and disclaimer.
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