WILLIE J. HENDRICKS, volleyball coach at Danbury High School, arrested for animal cruelty

- Connecticut, USA -

The Brookfield Police Department arrested 37-year-old WILLIE J. HENDRICKS (pictured).

On the afternoon of October 10, 2025, a woman who used to live with HENDRICKS at a home on Ironworks Hill Road went to the home to retrieve her mail. The woman found the conditions of the home to be "unsanitary" and since two dogs lived there, she thankfully decided to film what she encountered.

The affidavit provided to Voice For Us by the Brookfield Police Department identified the dogs as two Rottweilers, a female named Zyra and a male named Hades.

On the same day, Regional Animal Control Officer Ballo received the video footage which showed Zyra, who appeared "extremely skinny", "living in a bathroom with remnants of feces and urine on the ground," stated the affidavit. The furvictim had prominent ribs and thigh bones. When ACO Ballo zoomed the video in, he noticed "a black residue along the floor and walls, resembling feces and mold" and there were no visible windows for ventilation.

ACO Ballo immediately alerted ACO Cynthia Wilcox to the situation and requested further investigation.

After reviewing the video, ACO Wilcox spoke with the woman who filmed it and learned that Zyra and Hades were being kept in "unsanitary living conditions, confined to crates not big enough for them, and have been locked in a flooded basement."

A few days later, with the assistance of the Brookfield Police Department, ACO Wilcox responded to HENDRICKS' home to check on the current conditions of the dogs.

When they arrived, they asked HENDRICKS where Zyra was and according to the affidavit, he said she was in the bathroom. Officers asked him when was last time that Zyra was let out and he answered: "She goes out twice a day." When HENDRICKS went to get Zyra, officers asked HENDRICKS why she was so thin and HENDRICKS answered: "She was a small dog and has always been smaller than Hades."

ACO Wilcox rightfully pointed out that Zyra was underweight, not to be confused with "smaller."

According to the affidavit, Zyra appeared "dirty with a faint urine odor, had missing fur, and dark markings on her lower forelegs as well as the hind legs."

Officers learned that there was a third dog inside the home who died in 2022. His name was Max. Additionally, they learned that after Max had passed away, HENDRICKS moved his body to the back deck and while Max was lying there, there were children present at the home.

On October 29, 2025, ACO Wilcox applied for a search warrant to remove Hades and Zyra which Judge Mary Elizabeth Reid granted the same day.

The following day, members of the Brookfield Police Department, New Milford Regional Animal Control, and the Department of Children and Families executed the search warrant and Hades and Zyra were finally rescued and placed in the care of New Milford Regional Animal Control.

During the search, officials discovered two food/water bowls in the dining area that were empty and dry. "There was no other fresh water available for the dogs to drink", stated the affidavit.

When Hades and Zyra arrived at New Milford Regional Animal Control, ACO Wilcox noticed that "Zyra's hind quarters appeared weak, and she walked with a widened gate, wobbling as she walked to the kennel." According to the affidavit, both furvictims were so thirsty that they each drank a "full quart of water within minutes of access."

Later, Hades and Zyra were taken to the Candlewood Animal Hospital for a physical examination and results showed that Zyra's integument was labeled as "abnormal" as a result of large lymph glands, mammary mass, and healed wounds on her feet. The affidavit goes on to state that the musculoskeletal exam was also labeled as "abnormal" with thin musculature.

Zyra's assessment showed that she was recovering from pyometra and would need to be spayed.

"Hades had no remarkable physical issues upon review", stated the affidavit.

HENDRICKS, who is the boys and girls volleyball coach at Danbury High School, was arrested and charged with two counts of cruelty to animals. He was released after posting a meager $1,000 bond.

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Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from the affidavit provided to Voice For Us by the Brookfield Police Department. 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.

HENDRICKS’ mugshots provided to Voice For Us by the Brookfield Police Department

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