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RAFAEL CANTU BAEZ-RIESS and FRED JOHN RIESS arrested - Fifteen dead dogs found in South Boggy Creek

Updated: 13 hours ago

- Texas, USA -

Following a months-long investigation into the discovery of fifteen dead dogs in South Boggy Creek, 51-year-old RAFAEL CANTU BAEZ-RIESS and 61-year-old FRED JOHN RIESS (both pictured), were arrested and are facing charges.

It all started back on April 14, 2024, when in the early afternoon, the Austin Police Department responded to a report regarding dead dogs found in South Boggy Creek behind a recently sold home on 2107 Shiloh Drive in South Austin.

Animal Control Officers pulled the dogs out of the creek. The poor souls were wrapped in plastic bags or pet pee pads and surrounded by trash consistent with cleaning out a house before moving out.

In the backyard of the home on Shiloh Drive, police found fourteen abandoned ducks. Under the belief that the RIESS committed an act of cruelty to non-livestock animals or abandonment, on April 22, 2024, police issued twenty-eight warrants for the duo.

According to court documents, the RIESS moved out of their home on Shiloh Drive on April 13, 2024, after buying a new home in Cameron, Milam County.

Police said that approximately a month before the discovery of the deceased dogs, the RIESS’ realtor noticed several different types of animals on the property and when the realtor asked the duo whether they needed help relocating the animals, they refused.

On June 25, 2024, the RIESS were taken into custody by deputies with the Milam County Sheriff’s Office on Austin Police Department misdemeanor warrants.

During a police interview, BAEZ-RIESS said that he and RIESS would put in the freezer the dogs who passed away until they could arrange for their cremation. BAEZ-RIESS further said that the freezer was moved to their new house and that police would find deceased animals in there awaiting cremation.

A detective with the Milam County Sheriff’s Office obtained and executed a search warrant at the RIESS’ new home on 303 Boedeker Lane in Cameron.

Officials seized the freezer and took it to the Austin Animal Center, where investigators removed thirty-three small dead dogs and bird-like animals.

Some of the dogs were wrapped in material similar to what was found around the deceased dogs in South Boggy Creek. Investigators later determined that the dogs found in the freezer were similar in size, color and breed to those found in the creek.

Investigators are now charging the RIESS with multiple misdemeanor counts for animal cruelty and felony counts for dumping the dogs in the waterway.

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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 Milam County Jail

Source:

KXAN – November 20, 2024