top of page

ALL POSTS

Search

DALE P. HITEMAN, horse trainer, charged with cruelty to an animal - Video showed him whipping a mare

- Indiana, USA -


The Madison County Prosecutor’s Office announced that on October 17, 2023, 67-years-old DALE P. HITEMAN was formally charged with one count of cruelty to an animal.


The charge stems from an incident that took place on June 1, 2023, at the horse track Harrah's Hoosier Park Racing and Casino in Anderson.

HITEMAN was captured whipping his 2-year-old mare named Princess Laa in her stall multiple times.


In the press release obtained by Voice For Us, the prosecutor’s office said: “A person who knowingly or intentionally abuses a vertebrate animal commits cruelty to an animal, a class A misdemeanor.”

The press release goes on to say that “abuse” is defined as “knowingly or intentionally beat, torment, injure, or otherwise harm an animal.”


According to the affidavit obtained by Voice For Us, on September 28, 2023, Prosecutor Investigator Callahan received information that someone had posted a video on YouTube showing a horse who was being struck with a whip multiple times in her stall. Callahan then talked to Hoosier Park Investigator McCallister who advised that he had already investigated the incident and identified HITEMAN as Princess Laa's guardian and trainer.


McCallister told Callahan that he reviewed the video and recounted what the footage showed. HITEMAN “can be seen placing a bridal and other equipment onto the head of the horse Princess Laa. The horse appears not to like what is being done so she flails herself up and falls to the ground in the back corner of the stall. She fell with her head into the back corner and her body diagonal outward; however, somewhat in a slight curly position.”


The affidavit also said that HITEMAN then can be seen immediately grabbing a lead and striking Princess Laa. “He struck her several times in the body and the last few strikes were to the head”, stated the affidavit. Once HITEMAN stopped whipping the defenseless mare, she was able to get up and at that point he put the damn equipment on her and took her out of the stall.


A woman who had been working with HITEMAN for two weeks, witnessed the despicable abuse and gave McCallister a verbal statement of what she saw. The woman then quit as a result of the incident.


Amanda Wilson, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, examined Princess Laa and reported that “she did not observe any scrapes, cuts, welts, or other signs of physical abuse over the head, neck, body, hind end, or legs. It was her opinion there was no evidence of external or mental trauma to the horse.”


A different DVM, Lexi Webster, wrote in an email to investigators: “I do not see that this animal is either about to cause harm to itself or the handler prior to the handler striking it, and in my opinion, striking it in the face/head/neck is not appropriate and the handler is knowingly beating the animal without good cause.”


Callahan interviewed HITEMAN on October 11, 2023, and showed him the video in question.

HITEMAN has not been arrested yet. At this time of writing, court records do not list a court date for HITEMAN.


I have emailed the Madison County Prosecutor’s Office to inquire about Princess Laa’s wellbeing and see whether she has been removed. Chief Deputy Prosecutor Hanna responded: “The rules we operate under prohibit us from sharing anything further.”


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.



Additional Sources:





 
 
 

JOHN THOMAS KAISER arrested for hurting two dogs, injuring his wife, and police officers

- Indiana, USA -


On the night of Sunday, September 24, 2023, officers with the Evansville Police Department responded to a domestic violence call at a property on Taylor Avenue.


According to the police report obtained by Voice For Us, a woman had called stating “he has been hitting her” then disconnected. Central dispatch reported that number had called in twice and disconnected. The woman was able at one point to report that the male “had been drinking and hurting the dogs as well.”


Upon arrival, officers made contact with the woman outside the residence. She told officers that her husband, 48-years-old JOHN THOMAS KAISER (pictured), had come back home intoxicated from a friend's house and while they were in the living room watching TV, he became angry over a show and began a verbal argument. As Mrs. Kaiser started packing some stuff so she could leave, he started hitting and kicking one of the two dogs, a male Chow Chow named Harry. Despite the horrifying situation Mrs. Kaiser was facing, her priority was the well-being of those Voiceless Victims. As she attempted to get the dogs out of the home, KAISER "shoved her in the kitchen and began hitting her with a closed fist on her face", stated the report.


While Mrs. Kaiser was being beaten, she was able to get the dogs out of the home and put them in her van. Unfortunately, during the altercation, she dropped the keys and KAISER refused to give them to her.


According to the report, Mrs. Kaiser sustained several injuries. "Officers did not observe visible injuries to the dogs; however, they are very long haired canines and it would have been difficult to observe injury", stated the report. Furthermore, both furbabies were "visibly upset" and could not be evaluated by officers on the scene.


The report does not mention whether the dogs were later examined by a veterinarian and the Evansville Police Department does not have this information.


Before officers struggled to handcuff KAISER, he threw a metal dog food/water bowl at the officers. He was extremely uncooperative. Officers also sustained injuries as a result of KAISER's aggressive behavior.


KAISER is charged with animal cruelty, domestic battery and two counts of resisting law enforcement.


Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from an official police report.

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



KAISER’s mugshot provided to Voice or Us by the Evansville Police Department.




ree

 
 
 

DARLEEN DENISE CERVANTES arrested-Two dead puppies and many neglected animals found in Noble County

- Indiana, USA -


On Tuesday, September 19, 2023, the Noble County Sheriff’s Department arrested 54-years-old DARLEEN DENISE CERVANTES (pictured).


According to court documents, on the morning of September 1, 2023, Lawrence Kirsch called the sheriff’s department to report two deceased puppies on his property at 1383 E. Baseline Road in Albion. Mr. Kirsch explained that the puppies were CERVANTES’, his tenant.


When deputies responded to the scene, Mr. Kirsch explained that in February of this year, he let CERVANTES set up her camper on his property to supplement his income and let her bring twelve (12) dogs.


Mr. Kirsch went on to say that between June and July there were more dogs on the property and that CERVANTES was not properly caring for them. Moreover, Mr. Kirsch told deputies that CERVANTES had been away from the property for about two weeks while she was staying with a friend in Huntertown.

Mr. Kirsch’s daughter was also present and she expressed her concern for the dogs because she said they were “real skinny”.


Conservation officers were called in and an investigation into these reports was launched.


In cages and kennels located in various stalls, investigators found more than twenty-five dogs, a raccoon, and two emaciated foxes. There were also empty bags of dog food and buckets of dirty water.


According to WFFT, investigators found two dogs, a Pointer and a Bernese Mountain, in a kennel with no food or water.

In a closed shed, they found many animal cages, large amounts of dirt, and feces.

Additionally, investigators found two female Bulldogs, a male yellow Labrador, two female Belgian Malinois, four female and one male Anatolian Shepherd/Pyrenees mixed puppies approximately nine months old, an adult female Rottweiler and five puppies approximately three or four weeks old, and three male Belgian Malinois.

Authorities said none of the dogs had any food or water.


One of the kennels contained four Belgian Malinois puppies, approximately four months old. Sadly, two of them were found lifeless. The puppies’ fur was matted with blood, feces, and dirty water.


In a room with very little light, officials found a male Pitbull mix in a very small kennel, a male Border Collie mix in a dog pen zip-tied shut, and a female Australian Shepherd locked in a kennel.

Authorities reported that none of these dogs had enough room to move around or stand and that they were forced to lay on their own feces.


Officials then called in a few organizations for assistance with removing the Voiceless Victims.

Northern Indiana Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation took custody of the raccoon and foxes.


Michelle Bobay, President of the Shadarobah Horse Rescue, told 21Alive the organization took in eleven dogs. Among them are the two surviving Belgian Malinois puppies who were examined by a vet and it was determined they had Parvo. That is suspected to have killed the other two puppies.


21Alive reports that Tracie Mullins, Executive Director at the Humane Society of Noble County, took in fifteen dogs “in hopes of nursing them back to health.”


According to WFFT, authorities called CERVANTES to inform her that they removed the animals. When they asked CERVANTES for proof that the animals were hers, she denied all of them were hers and said that her animals were the ones in the shed because it had a working air conditioner.


CERVANTES told deputies she would go to the station to give a statement on September 7, 2023, but on that day, she called to advise deputies that she had gotten a lawyer and would not provide a statement.


CERVANTES is charged with twenty-six (26) misdemeanor counts of cruelty to an animal. At time of writing, she is being held at the Noble County Jail.

Court records show that CERVANTES’ next court hearing is slated for November 6, 2023, at 10:15 a.m. before Judge Steven C. Hagen.


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.


Story on Voice For Us Facebook page


CERVANTES’ mugshots provided to Voice For Us by the Noble County Jail.


Additional Source:





 
 
 

Subscribe Form

© 2025 Voice For Us

Privacy Policy

FAQ

bottom of page