JILL C. SWAIM arrested – One dead cat and fifty-two living cats found in a Citrus County home

- Florida, USA -

The Citrus County Sheriff's Office announced the arrest of 76-year-old JILL C. SWAIM (pictured).

On the late evening of Monday, March 9, 2026, deputies responded to a residence on 410 East Eureka Court in Hernando to assist Animal Control with an investigation.

The sheriff's office outlined in its press release that although the residence “sits in a well-kept Citrus Hills neighborhood where nothing appeared out of the ordinary from the outside, deputies immediately noticed an overwhelming ammonia odor as soon as they arrived at the home.”

Deputies learned from AC Officers that following a wellbeing check, they discovered multiple cats inside the residence who were living in deplorable conditions.

Sadly, AC Officers also found a deceased cat locked inside a bathroom. The furvictim, named Tortie, was inside a blanket in a cat carrier.

Deputies reported that when they entered the residence, they observed feces covering the majority of the floor, urine-soaked walls and blinds, and the temperature inside was “abnormally high.”

Deputies later found Tortie in a trash bag on the kitchen counter. According to the affidavit, SWAIM said that she did not have the energy to bury him and added that he was having respiratory issues and passed away the day before his scheduled vet appointment.

SWAIM further stated that over the summer she had to bury many cats due to them dying in the home.

On Monday night, Tortie and thirteen living cats were removed from the residence and SWAIM was charged with one felony count of aggravated animal cruelty and thirteen misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty.

The following day, Tuesday, March 10, 2026, deputies and AC Officers returned to the residence and removed an additional thirty-nine cats, bringing the total of living felines to fifty-two. All of them were taken to Citrus County Animal Services for veterinary examinations, medical care, and proper housing.

The sheriff’s office said that SWAIM is a “known volunteer for multiple animal rescue organizations in Citrus County” and during the investigation, “one rescue organization admitted to investigators that they were aware Swaim’s home had deteriorated beyond a condition appropriate for fostering animals, but the organization never notified Animal Control.”

The sheriff’s office advised that additional charges may be forthcoming pending the results of forensic veterinary evaluations on the remaining furvictims.

Court records show that SWAIM is slated to appear in Volusia County Circuit Court on March 31, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. before Judge Joel D. Fritton.

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Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from the press release by the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office. Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.

In the case of charges being dropped, dismissed, or the case being purged, this article will be rectified accordingly, if official documentation is provided to Voice For Us.

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