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HEATHER AUDITOR and LESTER PAUL RICHMOND arrested in connection with the death of a Husky puppy

Updated: Aug 9, 2024

- Arizona, USA -


~ Update: August 9, 2024 – New Mexico, USA

 

On August 1, 2024, 33-year-old HEATHER AUDITOR and 36-year-old LESTER PAUL RICHMOND (both pictured), were tracked down and located at a bus stop in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

RICHMOND was arrested after he failed to appear at his sentencing hearing on July 30, 2024. He is being held in the Doña Ana County Detention Center and awaiting extradition to Arizona.

 

The duo were arrested back in July 2023, in connection with the death of an innocent Husky who was found with his/her mouth taped shut and had a cord wrapped around his/her neck.

AUDITOR and RICHMOND were booked at the Maricopa County Jail each on one count of animal cruelty. Additionally, AUDITOR was charged with one count of hindering prosecution.

 

Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell then sent the case back to the Scottsdale Police Department for additional review, and RICHMOND was released.


In December 2023, the Maricopa Attorney’s Office indicted RICHMOND on one count of intentionally subjecting a domestic animal to cruel mistreatment, a class five felony. Under Arizona law, a class five felony is the highest level of punishment for animal abuse a person can face.

However, when the Maricopa Attorney’s Office attempted to proceed with the case, RICHMOND could not be found, a search was issued to locate him, and Maricopa County Attorney Mitchell reached out to the public for assistance (Video).

 

On February 16, 2024, RICHMOND was located and arrested in Troy, Alabama.

Back then, Maricopa County Attorney Mitchell said in a press release: “My office is grateful to the Scottsdale Police Department, the public, and the Troy Police Department for their efforts in bringing this defendant to justice. His extradition is expected in the next 30 days, once he is in Maricopa County we can proceed with prosecution.”

 

And now he is in New Mexico…….

Well, what can I say? If you keep releasing him, what do you expect?

 

RICHMOND’s mugshot shared from the Doña Ana County Detention Center

 

 

~ Original story:


The Scottsdale Police Department arrested 32-years-old HEATHER AUDITOR and 35-years-old LESTER PAUL RICHMOND (both pictured) in connection with a Husky puppy who was found dead in June 2023.


In a news release police said that an investigation was launched on June 27, 2023, after the puppy’s body was discovered by someone who was walking in an alley near Miller Road and Latham Street in Scottsdale. Police said the furbaby appeared to have his/her “mouth taped shut.” Scottsdale Police tells me the puppy was estimated to be eight-twelve weeks old. His/her name and gender could not be confirmed.


As part of the investigation, police canvassed the neighborhood, interviewed residents, and looked for surveillance cameras that may have captured the area where the Voiceless Victim was found. Eventually, they were able to find a video depicting RICHMOND’s vehicle “in the alley during the time frame the puppy was left there”, stated the release.

Not only were investigators able to identify RICHMOND as the registered owner of the vehicle, but they were also able to obtain video surveillance of him and AUDITOR talking about getting rid of the puppy.


AZFamily reports that court paperwork states that security video from a neighbor showed the driver of the car with an AZ Pet Friendly license plate turning into the alley with his arm out of the window while holding a cord that touched the ground. At the end of the cord was an “object” the same shape and size as a puppy that was being dragged along. The vehicle stopped for a few seconds in the same spot where the furbaby was found. The driver was RICHMOND.

Police said AUDITOR works as a cashier at a Circle K nearby on McKellips, and after the incident, security footage from inside the store showed RICHMOND saying: “I dropped our friend off little ****”.


Police said AUDITOR and RICHMOND were arrested on Thursday, July 20, 2023, during a traffic stop near Miller Road and Pierce Street.

Later on, a search warrant was served at their residence where additional evidence relating to the case was collected. The red tape used to muzzle the puppy’s mouth was found at the couple’s home.


According to AZFamily, RICHMOND denied his involvement in the death of the puppy but AUDITOR admitted the puppy was hers and that she had brough him/her home a month prior.


AUDITOR and RICHMOND were booked at the Maricopa County Jail each on one count of animal cruelty.

Additionally, AUDITOR was charged with one count of hindering prosecution.


# # #


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

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.



Mugshots provided to Voice For Us by the Scottsdale Police Department.


Maricopa Attorney’s Office - December 20, 2023 - Public’s Help Needed in Finding Man Accused of Mistreatment of Puppy


Maricopa Attorney’s Office - February 21, 2024 - Man Accused of Mistreatment of Puppy Arrested





 
 
 

JOHN ANTHONY LOPEZ and MICHAEL LAWRENCE LOPEZ arrested - More than fifty neglected Pitbulls rescued

- New Mexico, USA -


~ Update: June 23, 2023


I have emailed Ms. Tiffany Chamblee, Bernalillo County Animal Care Services Engagement and Outreach Manager, and asked her whether they found any deceased dogs on the property.


Ms. Chamblee tells me that “There were no animals that were found deceased at the property however, there were eight dogs with neurological symptoms, severe injury or non-social behavior that did require euthanasia.”


Ms. Chamblee also said: “The remaining 47 dogs are expected to make a full recovery after some medical and behavioral attention. Their ages range from 5 weeks to 7 years and there is a variety of males and females with some of the females being pregnant and/or just giving birth. They seem to be doing well given the circumstance. Most are very social.”



~ Original story:


Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen announced the arrest of 62-years-old JOHN ANTHONY LOPEZ and his brother 55-years-old MICHAEL LAWRENCE LOPEZ ( both pictured).


In a press release, Sheriff Allen said that on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, his Special Victims Unit (SVU) Detectives, working closely with animal control, executed a warrant at a property on 3501 Camino Alameda SW.


According to the release, at the residence were approximately fifty-five Pitbulls “in various stages of neglect, some appearing to have not eaten in quite some time.” Several of them also displayed “injuries indicative of abuse.” Officials said there was no sign of food on the property. Animal control relocated the Voiceless Victims “to various locations across the county where they would receive emergency medical attention and much-needed care”, stated the release.


Officials also found and rescued “an elderly woman living in poor conditions” identified as the duo’s mother.


The two brothers were arrested and charged with extreme animal cruelty (felony) and abuse of a resident.


As stated in the press release, “The operation was part of a larger initiative to address suspected animal cruelty, a focus that has been consistently emphasized under Sheriff Allen's administration.”


The investigation is ongoing, and the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office asks anyone with additional information on this case or any other instances of animal cruelty or neglect to come forward by contacting non-emergency dispatch at (505) - 798- 7000. Thank you!


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.



Mugshots provided to Voice For Us by the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office.

Pitbulls' pictures shared from the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office


Additional Source:





 
 
 

HENRY CHMILELENKO arrested for shooting his German Shepherd puppy who had to be euthanized

- New Mexico, USA -


Authorities have arrested HENRY CHMILELENKO after he shot his 6-month-old German Shepherd puppy named Kirk with a rifle.


On September 3, 2022, the Rio Rancho Police Department received two calls about a shooting at a home on 424 Southern Boulevard SW. The callers reported that CHMILELENKO was shooting his puppy.


A witness told police she was in her house when she heard a pop and when she lifted her curtains, she saw CHMILELENKO “wearing only a plaid shirt and no pants or underwear – holding a .22-caliber, gray rifle with a long scope.” She said that CHMILELENKO “was on top of his elevated wooden porch, just outside his front door, aiming at his dog running around the gravel at the bottom of the porch ramp.” The woman saw CHMILELENKO “take a second shot at the dog, which hit its rear end, cause the dog to yelp out in pain and run around the yard barking in pain.”


The report stated that the witness “said she was appalled and immediately ran over to Henry’s house in her pajamas. (She) explained she wasn’t going to let Henry kill his 6-month-old shepherd puppy.”


According to the report, officers “observed Kirk bleeding on the ground, with a gunshot wound to his rear area. He was still panting.” Rio Rancho animal control officer, Tim Lynch, responded to the scene and Kirk was rushed to a veterinarian where it was determined that Kirk had to be euthanized.


As CHMILELENKO was being placed under arrest, he told officers that Kirk was “going crazy and running around.”

To the officer’s question whether Kirk was attacking him, CHMILELENKO answered no.


In his home police found and confiscated a .22 Remington 597 rifle.


CHMILELENKO was arrested for extreme cruelty to animals and negligent use of a deadly weapon and was transported to the Sandoval County Detention Center.


Allow me to stray from this story to bring something to your attention.

I always Google the names of the people I mention in the stories I publish, and I found animal control officer Tim Lynch on Facebook.

On his profile, there is a picture which I found extremely devastating and totally inappropriate. A photo posted by Lynch shows him holding the head of a dead, bloody animal who has bullets on his/her body and a rifle propped against his/her lifeless body.

I would not expect an animal control officer, who’s duty is to protect and rescue animals, to be posing in such a tasteless and disturbing way.

I would expect more from an animal control officer who had also worked for the Rio Rancho Police Department!


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.




Sources:



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