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SARAH ANNE SMOLAK arrested – Twenty-seven dogs removed from her home, four of them are in critical condition

- Connecticut, USA -


Following a cruelty to animals investigation, the Winchester Police Department announced the arrest of 28-year-old SARAH ANNE SMOLAK (pictured).


Police said that on the early morning of March 18, 2025, officers went to a residence on 86 Strong Terrace in Winsted and served two arrest warrants for SMOLAK. Police explained the warrants were part of a joint investigation by the Department, the Town of Harwinton Regional Animal Control Department, and the Connecticut Department of Agriculture’s Animal Control Officers.


The investigation further led to the removal of twenty-seven (27) dogs who are being “examined, housed, and cared for locally”, said police.


The investigation into SMOLAK was launched in February 2025, shortly after she moved to Winsted when Winchester Police received a complaint from AMA Animal Rescue, regarding one of its foster dogs, a Pitbull named Marshmallow. AMA is based in Brooklyn, New York.


AMA Animal Rescue told police they entrusted Marshmallow to SMOLAK in December 2024, but Marshmallow had since disappeared and SMOLAK refused to disclose his whereabouts.


SMOLAK is charged with two counts of cruelty to animals. She was released after her arraignment on the condition to not “possess” animals.


According to a warrant for SMOLAK’s arrest, she is accused of failing to get medical treatment for Pancake and Seraphine, two dogs she had been “fostering” for animal rescue groups.


Pancake had a serious gastronomical issue causing her to lose weight but SMOLAK said it was due to her throwing up. SMOLAK took Pancake to a vet and it was determined that Pancake needed surgery. The vet reported that SMOLAK first attempted to leave with Pancake and then left leaving the furvictim behind. The vet alerted the authorities, and Pancake underwent surgery and thankfully recovered.


A second warrant described Seraphine’s condition after staying with SMOLAK for a period of time. According to the warrant, Seraphine suffered from hair loss, had open sores, was limping, and her spine and rib cage were visible.


Marshmallow was not among the twenty-seven dogs removed from SMOLAK's home on Tuesday and is still missing. AMA is offering a $2,500 reward for information on his whereabouts.


In a Facebook post AMA Animal Rescue said:

“AMA Animal Rescue acknowledges the arrest of Sarah Smolak by the Winchester Police Department on charges of animal cruelty and urges law enforcement and the public to remain vigilant in the ongoing search for Marshmallow, a missing dog last known to be in Smolak’s care.

According to the Winchester Police Department’s official press release, Smolak was arrested on two counts of animal cruelty, and twenty-four dogs were seized from her custody. This arrest confirms what we and countless animal advocates have long feared—dogs in Smolak’s care have suffered neglect, abuse, and even disappearance. In recent weeks, pet owners and animal rescues from across the country have come forward with similar horror stories about their animals, and we believe there are many more victims.

While we are relieved that Smolak has finally been held accountable for her actions, Marshmallow is still missing. He was last entrusted to her care, and she has yet to disclose his whereabouts. We urge anyone with information to come forward immediately.”


Winchester Police Chief Christopher Ciuci expressed his gratitude to advocacy groups and area law enforcement partners from as far as Long Island, NY, who provided information and assistance.


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Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from the press release by the Winchester 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.





JUSTIN J. KONTOUT arrested for murdering the family cat and injuring the family dog

- Connecticut, USA -


The Watertown Police Department announced the arrest of 41-years-old JUSTIN J. KONTOUT (pictured).


KONTOUT was arrested on October 12, 2023, but the incidents that ultimately led to his arrest date back to March 2023.


According to the affidavit obtained by Voice For Us, on March 21, 2023, Animal Control Officer Umstead was made aware of a deceased cat and an injured dog both of whom lived at 80 Park Avenue, Oakville with KONTOUT and his father identified as SK.


The affidavit identified the cat as Sophia and the dog as Charlie.


During the investigation, ACO Umstead talked with KONTOUT’s sister, LK, who recounted the facts as she learned them from her father. LK stated that on March 20, 2023, when her father went home, he noticed that Charlie was “injured with cuts on his head and was limping.” SK then called for his son but there was no one home.

SK also noticed that the kitchen garbage can was in the back of the Chevy pickup truck in the driveway. When SK got the garbage can out of the truck, he saw his father’s ashes in the trash in the truck.


When LK went to her father’s home, he told her what had happened and as they sat down to eat, KONTOUT arrived and according to his sister, he was under the influence of something because he was “acting irrationally.” LK asked him why their grandfather’s ashes were in the truck. At some point, LK and SK went to the truck and found Sophia, lifeless, “wrapped in multiple layers of blankets.” LK told ACO Umstead that Sophia’s throat was cut from “a large laceration.” LK stated she saw blood and started yelling at her brother asking him what he did to Sophia.


According to LK, later that evening, her father found a knife in the truck that may have been used to murder Sophia.

LK went on to say that her brother began to refer to himself as “Stanley” and told his father and sister they had the wrong guy.


As stated in the affidavit, LK said “she believed that Justin is a danger to animals and/or people if he is under the influence and that she believed he killed the cat and injured the dog.”


Charlie was taken to a vet in Bantam and it was determined that he had two wounds on the top of his head, an injury to the inside of his left lip, and a wound on his muzzle with some swelling.


As for Sophia, her body was handed to UCONN Storrs for a necropsy.


On March 29, 2023, Watertown Police executed a search warrant at the KONTOUTs’ home and among the items that were confiscated were a wooden handle silver colored knife, and a wooden handle hammer. On the hammer there were stains that appeared to be blood and one of the detectives took a DNA swab which was submitted to a lab to determine whether the blood belonged to a human or an animal.


Meanwhile, ACO Umstead received a call from the pathologist who performed the necropsy on Sophia. Results showed that “this case is for sure blunt force trauma.” The pathologist explained that if Sophia had been hit by a car, she would have had more fractures, torn skin, and abrasions. The pathologist further said that if Sophia was hit by a car, then “the cat was just clipped because the lesions were primarily in the skull rather than the rest of the body.” According to the pathologist, Sophia “had lesions consistent with blunt force, however what that blunt force was from is unclear.” In regard to the injury on Sophia’s neck, which appeared to be a round oval shape, the pathologist stated that the fact that it is more linear, it would mostly be consistent with a puncture from an object.


As the investigation progressed, ACO Umstead took Charlie to Embrace Animal Hospital for a second opinion. The doctor that examined him said the wounds on his head were “suspicious” since they were on the back of his head and not in an area he would normally hit running through bushes, nor caused by another dog or animal.


Charlie, a 4-year-old a Rhodesian Ridgeback/hound mix, has since recovered and police said he has been adopted and is living in a loving home.


On a separate note, according to an article published by NBC Connecticut on May 20, 2016, KONTOUT had been arrested on May 19, 2016, by Thomaston Police for multiple thefts and forgeries.


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.



KONTOUT’s mugshot shared from the Watertown Police Department.





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