A warrant and statewide “be on the lookout” bulletin have been
issued for a woman wanted in an incident where the remains of 21
Great Danes were found last week at a West Corydon Street
residence.
Bradford Township Police said Friday that Cheryl Ann Magnotta,
59, formerly of 320 W. Corydon St., was supposedly seen Friday in
the Bradford area.
“However, she’s gone,” an officer said. The BOLO means law
enforcement agencies throughout the state will be seeking to
apprehend Magnotta.
According to court records at District Judge Rich Luther’s
office, Magnotta is facing charges of 21 counts of cruelty to
animals, third-degree misdemeanors; and 41 counts of scattering
rubbish, summary offenses, for the incident.
According to an affidavit of probable cause for the warrant
issued for Magnotta’s arrest, at 3:20 p.m. on June 12, police were
requested to assist McKean County Humane Officer Tony Danias at 320
W. Corydon St. in Bradford Township in reference to a possible
cruelty to animals case. Upon arrival, police met Danias along with
Bradford Township Code Enforcement Officer Merle Silvis; the
current property owners, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in
care of Ocwen Federal Bank; and the owners’ agent, Jack Buckles of
Rocking Horse Realty in Smethport, who was sent to clean up the
property.
Buckles told police that upon checking the property for
occupancy and preparation for sale, he found what appeared to be
remains of two domestic dogs in a kennel area of an out building
located on the property. The bodies, which were in a state of
decomposition, appeared to have died from starvation lying inside
the kennel, where the owner, believed to be Magnotta, left the
remains, according to the affidavit.
Buckles had said the door to the building was nailed shut so the
dogs had no way of getting out.
The affidavit stated that an open blue tarp was lying about five
feet away from the out building with the bones of what appeared to
be another domestic dog. A skull was lying adjacent to the tarp.
Police noted several tarps and rugs lying about the property in a
position that appeared to be covering other possible remains of
animals, as well as other out buildings that appeared to have had
additional kennels.
Police also noted the property had a very strong dead animal
odor and the entire property was in disarray. Several disassembled
kennels are also located on the property, according to the
affidavit.
Police had said Magnotta was a known breeder/owner of Great
Danes. She reportedly won a Great Dane Club of America competition
with Great Danes she owned in 2004.
According to the affidavit, Magnotta did have a registered
kennel license as of 2001 under the name Swift Dane Kennel.
Bradford Township Police have observed Great Danes in the care and
custody of Magnotta on numerous occasions over the past seven years
at the residence.
Magnotta was last known to be at 320 W. Corydon St. on June 11
with a 26-foot U-Haul moving truck, rented from Olean, N.Y., to
move items from the residence since the property was under
foreclosure by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, according to
the affidavit.
Danias reportedly cited Magnotta, who police had said was
believed to be a native of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area, in the
past for neglect of dogs.
The affidavit stated at 9:46 a.m. on June 14, police obtained a
search warrant for the home, outbuildings and the enclosed area of
land around the dwelling of the 320 W. Corydon St. property. At
10:32 a.m., police, along with Danias, executed the search warrant
and found the remains of 21 Great Danes.
The bodies were in various forms of decomposition upon the
property, both inside kennels and outside throughout the property.
The decomposed bodies located outside the structures were both
wrapped and covered with blue plastic tarps and old carpet
remnants. Police noted no food or water dishes inside or around the
kennel areas, according to the affidavit.
It was reported that the dogs, including adult and younger dogs,
were believed to have died in a period of three to nine months ago
and were covered by lime, soil, debris and even dog feces.
Police found documents relating to the ownership, breeding,
kennel license and other various records pertaining to raising of
domestic dogs in the search, according to the affidavit.
Police found additional tarps and carpet remnants at the
residence matching that of the ones used. Police located 32 plastic
bags of dog feces, which were scattered throughout the property of
320 W. Corydon St., as well as property adjacent to the north owned
by another person, according to the affidavit.
Police said a few of the dog carcasses were sent to a local
veterinarian for autopsies, and the rest are being kept as
evidence. Police did not say Friday if results have come back on
the autopsies.
