MARIAH ELIZABETH REEVES arrested after a dog was found starved to death

- Connecticut, USA -

On the morning of Thursday, October 23, 2025, Trooper Csiki with the Connecticut State Police was dispatched to an abandoned house on 228 Stafford Road (Route 32) in reference to a deceased dog in a cage found in the shoulder of the roadway.

According to the complaint, on arrival, Trooper Csiki “immediately detected the strong distinct odor of rotting flesh.” Mansfield Animal Control Officer Nielson pointed to a dog crate in the shoulder of the roadway at the edge of the driveway to the abandoned house.

In the metal crate, Trooper Csiki saw a medium sized tan/white dog with a few sheets and a blue bowl.

Trooper Csiki further saw some smeared blood and fur on the pavement outside the crate and on the black pan inside of the crate.

Trooper Csiki and ACO Nielson removed the dog from the crate and they noticed that her fur and skin appeared to be removed off her front legs and her stomach area was infested with several maggots.

ACO Nielson took the furvictim to her office to scan for a microchip and she was able to obtain information that led her to a Windham woman who was the dog’s previous guardian.

The woman explained that the dog, a 3-year-old Boxer/Husky, was named Girl and that she had adopted her in May 2023. The woman described Girl as an amazing and gentle dog who had been a close part of her family.

In a sworn statement, the woman stated that after Girl had puppies on November 9, 2024, “for some reason, Girl became a little too protective over me so I made the extremely tough decision to rehome her.”

At the time, the woman had a close friend identified as 28-year-old MARIAH ELIZABETH REEVES (pictured).

According to the woman, REEVES had met Girl many times and they seemed to get along just fine. On April 25, 2025, the woman rehomed Girl to REEVES who then renamed the furvictim Ella.

The woman said that in the following couple of months she and REEVES kept in touch and when REEVES was jobless and broke, the woman sent her money for Ella’s food and other things.

At one point, in May 2025, REEVES claimed that Ella had bitten someone and that prior to that she had damaged a rug and baby diapers.

Although the woman offered to take Ella back, REEVES never acknowledged the woman’s messages and never responded to her.

On October 12, 2025, REEVES reached out to the woman and asked her for money to buy dog food, but the woman refused.

Meanwhile, investigators learned that REEVES had an active File 5 arrest warrant out of Connecticut State Police Troop E for fraud/ larceny charges and an extraditable arrest warrant out of Rhode Island for similar charges.

On October 25, 2025, troopers went to REEVES’ apartment on Roanoak Avenue in Windham in another attempt to locate, interview and arrest her for the two active arrest warrants in her name but she was not there. Troopers reported smelling rotting flesh coming from the residence. They knocked on the apartment door, but no one answered. 

According to the affidavit, troopers then left a voicemail for REEVES and she called back. When they told her Ella had been found dead, “she did not seem emotional whatsoever and continued to claim she had nothing to do with it.” 

Multiple neighbors interviewed by investigators stated that REEVES was extremely neglectful of Ella, including leaving her at home in a crate by herself. Investigators additionally learned that those who knew REEVES urged her to find a new home for Ella because she was not properly caring for her.

It’s unclear why these people did not report REEVES to the authorities. Maybe, just maybe, Ella could have been saved!

REEVES was eventually arrested on November 7, 2025, and charged with cruelty to animals, unlicensed dog, illegal operation of a motor vehicle under suspension, illegal operation of a motor vehicle without minimum insurance, and operate or parking an unregistered motor vehicle. 

A necropsy performed on Ella showed the cause of death was starvation which was a long slow death for Ella. The necropsy report estimates that the Ella died 10-15 days before she was found. The report further stated that Ella weighed 23 pounds at the time she arrived at the UCONN college of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources.

REEVES was booked on a $10,000 bond and is scheduled to appear at state Superior Court in Rockville on November 24, 2025.

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Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from the criminal complaint provided by Connecticut State Police. 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.

REEVES’ mugshot shared from Connecticut State Police.

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