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DEBRA JANE CATLEDGE arrested twice in less than two days on animal cruelty charges

Updated: Sep 27, 2024

- Alabama, USA -


~ Update: September 27, 2024

 

On September 24, 2024, 64-years-old DEBRA JANE CATLEDGE (pictured) was sentenced after in August 2024, she was found guilty of thirty-seven (37) counts of animal cruelty.

 

Colbert County Circuit Judge Mitchell D. Hays handed down a thirty (30) year-split-sentence. CATLEDGE will only serve nine (9) years in prison and after her release, she will be on probation for the remaining twenty-one (21) years during which time she cannot have animals. If she violates her probation she will be sent back to prison for the remainder of her sentence.

 

WHNT reports that according to court documents, CATLEDGE entered a guilty plea for seventeen (17) counts of second-degree dog/cat cruelty, twelve (12) counts of cruelty to animals, three (3) counts of first-degree dog/cat cruelty, three (3) counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, and two (2) counts of failure to bury livestock. Four counts were abandoned by the court to be considered in the sentencing.

 

As reported by WAFF, CATLEDGE  is planning on appealing her conviction. Judge Hays set a $150,000 appeal bond at the end of the sentencing. CATLEDGE is booked in the Colbert County Jail on that bond.

 


~ Original story:


On Friday, September 29, 2023, Colbert County authorities executed a search warrant on a property in Cherokee.


Corey Speegle, the director of animal services at the Colbert County Animal Shelter, told Fox News Digital that back in June he received reports of dead horses on the property which prompted an investigation. On September 25, 2023, Speegle received another report, and after presenting it to both the sheriff’s office and district attorney’s office, a search warrant was executed.


County Animal Services and State Bureau of Investigation found at least twenty-nine (29) dead horses as well as ten (10) live horses who were suffering from starvation, and nearly fifty (50) dogs who were living in horrible conditions. Additionally, officials discovered skeletal remains of two dogs. One of the deceased horses was found in a pond.


Speegle told Fox News Digital the conditions “were bad as the hair on the majority of the dogs was matted, and they were living in urine and feces. Some of the dogs were so matted that it was difficult to find the eyes. The dogs were also covered in bugs and cockroaches.”

“This was a puppy mill,” added Speegle.


All the surviving animals, including horses, dogs, donkeys, and mules, were removed from the property, and taken to the Colbert County Animal Shelter.


On Saturday, September 30, 2023, deputies with the Colbert County Sheriff’s Office arrested 63-years-old DEBRA JANE CATLEDGE (pictured) on fifteen (15) counts of animal cruelty. CATLEDGE was booked into the Colbert County Jail and released the following day after posting $12,250 bond.


WAFF reports that CATLEDGE was then arrested again on the evening of Tuesday, October 3, 2023, on state charges of twenty-eight (28) counts of failing to bury or burn dead animals.


Through Facebook posts, the Colbert County Animal Shelter thanked the volunteers who came out and helped and everyone who stepped up to assist the shelter with monetary donations and food.


On a separate note, News 19 reports that CATLEDGE “is not a stranger to animal-related cases with law enforcement. She was convicted in 2013 after authorities rescued more than 120 small dogs that were found in cages outside her home.”

After pleading guilty to the animal cruelty charges, CATLEDGE spent some time in jail and according to a plea agreement, she was no longer allowed to breed animals.

Colbert County Sheriff Eric Balentine told News 19: “After she did her 14 days, she was ‘out of sight, out of mind’ and I’m not pointing fingers because I don’t know whose at fault for that… I’m just saying after this, as long as I’m in office, somebody is going to keep an eye on what’s going on.”


As I always say, animal abusers are toxic. Toxic people do not change, they only change their victims!


Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official news outlets. Links included.

Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.



CATLEDGE’s mugshot shared from the Colbert County Jail.





 
 
 

MERALD ODINAKACHI ONYEMAECHI and his brother MATTHEW UCHENNA ONYEMAECHI charged with animal cruelty

- Florida, USA -


The North Port Police Department announced the arrest of 24-years-old MERALD ODINAKACHI ONYEMAECHI and his brother, 28-years-old MATTHEW UCHENNA ONYEMAECHI (both pictured).


In a media release, police said that back in July 2023, they received a tip and a video from PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) alerting them to a small Pit Bull puppy having his/her ears cropped without the use of anesthesia.


According to police, “The video also showed that the animal lost an excessive amount of blood as a result of the cutting. Both brothers witnessed the incident within their home and failed to act which caused unnecessary pain and suffering to the animal for no medical reason.”


Voice For Us obtained a copy of the Probable Cause Affidavit and part of the narrative stated: “In the video I observed the dog to appear older than 6 weeks of age laying with its belly on a white plastic folding table. All four of the dog's extremities were extended out of the edges of the table and its snout was tapped with black tape to prevent movement of the dog. The upper half of the dog was laying on what appeared to be a white and blue puppy absorbent pad with one cut out to fit around the dog's head and neck. The dog's right ear was then observed being clamped and cut off to the clamp. As the ears were being cut the dog attempts to pull away where a white female bystander places a hand on the dog to assist in restraining it to the table. I then observed the video to show the dog with its ear cut with the absorbent pads having a significant amount of blood on them before the video cutting off.”


In the affidavit, the Voiceless Victim is identified as Khaos and in the media release police said he/she survived the illegal procedure.


On the morning of October 2, 2023, police executed a search warrant for suspected animal cruelty at a property in the 4000 block of Baynes Road in North Port.


Police did not give any details of any evidence recovered. According to the release, five dogs were removed from the property and taken by Sarasota County Animal Services for safekeeping. No information about the dogs was released either.


The two brothers were placed under arrest and booked into the Sarasota County Jail on one felony count each of Causing Cruel, Death, Pain, and Suffering. Bond was set at $50,000.


The third person seen in the video performing the illegal procedure is yet to be identified.


North Port Police Chief Todd Garrison said in a statement: “We love our four-legged friends, and this type of act towards animals will not be tolerated in North Port.”


Police urge anyone who has information about this case to contact the Department at (941) - 429 - 7300. Thank you!


Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official news outlets. Link included.

Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.



Mugshots provided to Voice For Us by the North Port Police Department.





 
 
 

NICHOLAS JERISAAC LYNCH arrested for killing ex-girlfriend’s dog and stabbing her current boyfriend

- Alabama, USA -


At around 3:30 a.m., Friday, September 29, 2023, deputies with the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a residence in the 1100 block of Greymont Boulevard in Moundville, after receiving a call about a man who had been stabbed.


According to the press release by the sheriff’s office obtained by Voice For Us, upon arrival deputies learned that 29-years-old NICHOLAS JERISAAC LYNCH (pictured) had broken into his ex-girlfriend’s home. When it happened, the woman, her dog, her two children under the age of 12, and her current boyfriend were home.


The woman told deputies that LYNCH parked his car and forced his way in. During the altercation, LYNCH stabbed the woman’s boyfriend several times. He then proceeded to kill the woman’s dog and assault her children.


When deputies arrived, LYNCH had already fled the scene and the two adults had left the home. As deputies cleared the residence, they found the deceased dog and the children hiding in separate places.


According to the release, “A perimeter was set up and deputies utilized canine and arial drone assets, as well as sending an IPAWS (Emergency Phone Alert) to the surrounding area. The Drone Unit was able to locate the suspect hiding in a wooded area, and deputies and investigators converged and took him into custody.”


LYNCH is charged with Aggravated Animal Cruelty among other charges.

Online arrest records show that LYNCH is being held into the Tuscaloosa County without bond.


The sheriff’s office did not disclose additional information about the dog.

I took the liberty of naming the Voiceless Victim Starflower for the tribute image. Should his/her given name be made public, I will rectify it accordingly.


Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from the official news release distributed by the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office. Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such source report an update.



Murderer’s mugshot shared from the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.





 
 
 

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