Bradford Township Police and McKean County Humane Officer Tony
Danias are still looking for Cheryl Magnotta for questioning about
the deaths of more than 20 dogs.
The investigation into the incident where 21 dog remains were
found last week at 320 W. Corydon St. continues. Police said
charges are forthcoming and likely will include cruelty to animals
for possible starvation and neglect, according to local media.
Jack Buckles, an agent for a local realty company hired to clean
up the foreclosed house, discovered two decomposed bodies of Great
Danes enclosed in a small room behind a door nailed shut in a small
building at the back of the property at the intersection with
Dorothy Lane, bordering University of Pittsburgh at Bradford
property.
Buckles contacted Danias, who enlisted the help of Bradford
Township Police and code enforcement for resources and manpower
because of the scope of the situation. Officers found a total of 21
dog remains, including bodies and bones, on and near the
property.
The remains included adult and younger dogs in varying degrees
of decomposition. They were found in two boarded-up buildings, in
shallow graves, wrapped in tarps and underneath old carpet or rugs
on the ground. The dogs were believed to have died three to nine
months ago and were covered by lime, soil, debris and even dog
feces.
Police said a few of the dog carcasses were sent to a local
veterinarian for autopsies, and the rest are being kept as
evidence. Danias said that the search team tried to gather up
everything, but there are still a few pieces of bones here and
there on the property, according to local media.
Police said the residence was recently vacated by Magnotta, who
had held a licensed kennel for breeding Great Danes and reportedly
won a Great Dane Club of America competition with Great Danes she
owned in 2004. Officials had said the home had been repossessed by
a lending agency, and Magnotta had not lived at the house for the
past several months. Danias reportedly cited Magnotta in the past
for neglecting dogs.
Police said Magnotta is believed to be a native of the
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area, according to local media.
Further questions about the investigation into the incident were
directed to the officer in charge of the investigation, who is out
of the office for a few days.
Danias said there is no fee to drop off an animal at the McKean
County SPCA. He explained that about 15 years ago or so there was a
fee to turn in animals to the SPCA, but there hasn’t been a fee for
dropping off animals since that time. He explained after animals
are dropped off, SPCA officials can ask for a donation.
Danias added there is a fee to adopt a pet.
SPCA manager Heidi Mackowski confirmed that there was no fee for
dropping off animals at the SPCA.
“This is exactly why we don’t charge anybody,” she said Monday.
“We’d much rather have them come to us” than have something like
this happen.
Mackowski said the SPCA had not received any feedback Monday
about the incident or any information to help locate Magnotta for
questioning.
