- Marion, Massachusetts, USA -
January 20, 2021
UPDATE on 66-year-old LAUREN FISHER (pictured below).
As reported by Sippican Week, on January 14, FISHER walked out of Wareham District Court with a plea deal for five years of probation and a ban on owning animals.
FISHER’s case was continued without a finding as a result of a plea deal.
Since her arrest on December 11, 2019, and the condemnation of her home, FISHER has been living in New Bedford.
Work has been done to restore the home in Marion, potentially saving it from demolition, reports Sippican Week.
The home, which is now up for sale, was initially set to be demolished in mid-December.
But at a December 1, Board of Health meeting, FISHER was given a 30-day extension to make improvements.
According to the Jan. 14 decision from the court, the home is also subject to unannounced inspections once per month until it is sold.
~ Original story:
On Monday, December 9, Marion Police received a report that several animals were being neglected and deceased animals had been recently removed from a property at 464 Front Street.
Police launched an investigation and on Wednesday, December 11, they obtained a search warrant for LAUREN FISHER’s home and property.
Hours later police went to FISHER’s house along with animal control officers and representatives from the Animal Rescue League.
At the scene, they discovered multiple animals, including miniature horses, potbelly pigs, ducks, rabbits, turkeys, hens, chickens, dogs, cats and exotic birds living in deplorable conditions.
65-year-old LAUREN FISHER (pictured below), was present during the search and when she became disruptive and interfered with the investigation she was placed under arrest.
She was charged with two counts of animal cruelty, interfering with a police officer, and resisting arrest.
A Marion Board of Health agent also responded to the scene and ordered that the house be condemned due to the condition inside.
Jay McGrail, Marion Town Administrator, said: “Trash throughout the house, animal waste in the bed.” “Insects prevalent throughout the home. Animal droppings. Rodent droppings in the basement.”
Five people including children were also living in the home, so the Department of Children and Families was notified.
Despite what authorities have discovered, FISHER’s son, who does not want to be named, bailed his mother out of jail, said that this is all a misunderstanding, and that authorities are just trying to paint a bad picture of her.
This is what he said about his mother: “She’s one of the most caring people I know.” “She took in foster kids, anyone who needs a place to stay. Lauren is a loving mother who does everything in her power to take care of her six children and her four grandchildren.”
Just when you think that this story cannot get any worse than this, news outlets report that LAUREN FISHER was already known to the police.
Almost 20 years ago, her home was raided and similar conditions to the recent ones were found!
According to WCVB5, the Standard-Times in the December 24, 1999 edition, reported: “The animals were kept crowded in crates in the house, a makeshift barn in the yard, kennels in the abutting woods and elsewhere on the acres around the house. Some animals were woefully underfed; all were dirty." "Inside the four-bedroom house, animal feces, flies, trash, urine and clothes mixed to create a malodorous mess that led health officials to condemn the house and prompted a judge to grant DSS temporary custody of the six children aged — to 17."
FISHER is expected to be arraigned Thursday, December 12, in Wareham District Court.