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AMANDA JANE SIMPSON and CODY MICHAEL WOOD charged after 348 animals rescued from an Owen County home

- Indiana, USA -

 

On July 2, 2024, the Owen County Sheriff’s Office was alerted to the possible neglect of a horse at a residence in the 3700 block of Truesdel Road in Gosport.

 

The deputy who responded to the residence reported that most of the animals on the property had no food or water.

 

The sheriff’s office then reached out to the Owen County Humane Society for assistance regarding the rescue of nearly 350 animals from the residence.

 

According to court documents, the poor animals showed signs of neglect, abandonment, and emaciation.

A dog who was found tied to a tree displayed several signs of neglect. Another dog who appeared “timid and scared” was found next to a pig pin and did not have any food or water. Inside the pig pin officials found seven different animal skulls and two animal carcasses.

Many chickens appeared to be missing feathers and displaying wounds on their feet.

Officials also discovered two horses whose ribs were visible through their coats.

A helpless duck that was found caught in a fence, a baby goat was found covered in feces, a goat carcass was discovered under an RV inside fencing along the property, and a dead rabbit was also found inside one of the crates housing chickens and rabbits.

 

In a Facebook post, the Owen County Humane Society said that they arrived at the scene on the afternoon of July 8, 2024, “to find most animals without food or water and many deceased animals in cages.” 

 

The agency removed the first 243 animals with the assistance of the Indiana State Board of Animal Health. Then the Humane Society returned to the property on July 18, 2024, to remove the remaining 105 animals totaling 348 innocent souls!

 

Among the rescued animals were 2 bearded dragons, 10 cats and kittens (one cat had six kittens shortly after being rescued), 225 chickens, 2 cows, 17 dogs and puppies, 29 ducks, 25 goats, 4 horses, 4 pigs, 9 rabbits, and 21 sheep.

 

In connection with this case, the Owen County Sheriff’s Office arrested 36-year-old AMANDA JANE SIMPSON and 31-year-old CODY MICHAEL WOOD (both pictured).

WOOD has been preliminarily charged with cruelty to an animal, a misdemeanor charge, and SIMPSON has been charged with cruelty to an animal and failure to properly dispose of a dead animal, which is a level 6 felony.

Court records show that WOOD was released on July 10, 2024, after posting $5,000 bond while SIMPSON was able to post her $7,500 bond on July 30, 2024.

The duo are scheduled to appear in a jury trial in Owen Circuit Court on January 21, 2025.

 

The Owen County Humane Society expressed gratitude toward its rescue partners who are assisting with this tremendous influx. The organization is facing an unimaginable hardship and needs donations. If you wish and can afford to help out, please click here. Thank you!

 

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Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is also sourced from FOX 59. 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.

  



 
 
 

MIESHA SHAWNTERIA BAXTON arrested – She left two dogs outside exposed to extreme heat, one died

- Indiana, USA -

 

The Evansville Police Department arrested 36-year-old MIESHA SHAWNTERIA BAXTON (pictured).

 

According to the affidavit obtained by Voice For Us, police received a call on August 2, 2024, from a man who was working next door to BAXTON and saw two dogs in her backyard. The caller advised that the “dogs did not appear to have any water or shade.”

 

Officers responded to BAXTON’s home in the 1000 block of Covert Avenue and when they walked out to the backyard, they sadly found one deceased dog and another dog who was alive but in distress from the heat.

 

Animal Control was called in and the responding officers began an investigation.

 

The deceased dog was attached to a thick chain that was around his/her stomach area and then again connected to a collar around his/her neck. As stated in the release, “The dog was in direct sunlight and had no shelter to escape the heat.” Officers reported that the chain was not long and the dog could not each the “empty overturned water bowls in the yard.”

 

Animal Control Officers advised that the dog’s gums were “beet red” which would indicate he/she was suffering from symptoms of heat stroke.  Animal Control removed the deceased dog and took the live one to be examined.

 

When police questioned BAXTON about the dogs, she said she put the dogs outside the day before at approximately 7:30 p.m. and left them in the backyard because her house was infested with fleas. BAXTON claimed that she checked on the dogs throughout the night until she went to sleep and added that she gave them water the following morning at 8:30.

 

Police also talked to the caller and he said that he took a hose and sprayed the live dog with water and then filled a bucket for the dog to drink.

 

BAXTON was placed under arrest and booked into the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office on animal cruelty charges. She was released after posting a meager $500 bond.

 

The affidavit does not contain additional information about the Voiceless Victims and at the time of writing, I have not heard back from the Evansville Police Department.

 

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

 

 

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Disclaimer: This story is sourced from the probable cause affidavit provided to Voice For Us.

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.

  

 

BAXTON’s mugshot shared from the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office





 
 
 

EDWARD ANDREW SCHULEY accused of murdering the cat of the friend he was staying with

Updated: Jul 27, 2024

- Indiana, USA -

 

36-year-old EDWARD ANDREW SCHULEY (pictured) is facing charges for murdering a defenseless cat.

 

According to the probable cause affidavit provided to Voice For Us by the Clark County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, on July 8, 2024, Patrolman Lawson with the Jeffersonville Police Department was dispatched to a residence on 1315 E. Court Avenue in reference to a report of animal cruelty causing death.

 

Upon arrival, he spoke with the reporting party, that I will refer to as Ms. A., and learned that Ms. A.'s 8-year-old female cat named FatFat had been killed by SCHULEY.

 

Ms. A. explained that she had met SCHULEY in March of this year and he asked her if he could stay at her apartment for a few days. Ms. A. offered him hospitality starting from July 5, 2024. She told Patrolman Lawson that FatFat "feared [the] guest and would hide anytime she saw Edward." Ms. A. added that "at no time did her cat ever harm or attack Edward when he was staying."

 

On the afternoon of July 7, 2024, Ms. A. left the apartment to go to the store and when she returned, she noticed some blood on SCHULEY's right hand. She asked him what happened and he answered he had cut himself with his pocketknife. Ms. A. had no reason to doubt him because she knew he carried a pocketknife, so she believed him.

 

In the evening, before going to bed, Ms. A. could not find FatFat and SCHULEY said that she was probably hiding or playing outside.

 

When Ms. A. woke up the following morning she went outside and started looking for FatFat but could not find her anywhere. At some point that morning, SCHULEY left to go to mandated court rehab and Ms. A. was still outside searching for FatFat.


When she went back to the apartment, she noticed dry blood on the wall above her couch. She then moved the couch and found more blood on the floor. Ms. A. had a camera in her living room facing the couch, so she took her phone and reviewed security footage. The video showed SCHULEY striking FatFat, wrapping her in a blanket, and taking her to the kitchen.

 

After watching the video Ms. A. decided to look inside her garbage can outside at the rear of her apartment and when she opened it, she found FatFat lifeless under a box.

 

Patrolman Lawson reported that when he watched the video, he saw SCHULEY reaching behind the couch to grab FatFat who could be heard hissing. He put her into the blanket and tied a knot while FatFat’s legs were hanging out of the blanket.

 

Ms. A. had placed FatFat in a box and showed her to Patrolman Lawson. FatFat had injuries to the right side of her little face and mouth area. Ms. A. confirmed FatFat did not have these injuries prior to the incident.

 

SCHULEY was brought into Clark County Circuit Court in handcuffs on Friday, July 19, 2024.

He is facing one felony count of animal cruelty.

 

Court records show four future dates for the murderer. August 19, 2024 (Pretrial Conference), September 19, 2024 (Status Conference), November 4, 2024 (Final PreTrial Hearing/Conference), and November 21, 2024 (Jury Trial).

 

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Disclaimer: This story is sourced from the probable cause affidavit provided to Voice For Us. 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.

 


SCHULEY’s mugshot provided to Voice For Us by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office



 
 
 

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