- Virginia, USA -
Following a months-long investigation into the cleanliness and safety of their home, the Winchester Police Department arrested 44-year-old AMY ELIZABETH CARR and 47-year-old DONALD GENE STOVER JR (pictured).
On April 1, 2024, police responded to the couple home in the 300 block of National Avenue on behalf of the Department of Social Services.
Upon arrival, in the front yard, officers discovered a partially buried dog carcass wrapped in a blanket. CARR and STOVER told police the dog had been deceased since November 2023 and the ground had been “too hard” for them to bury the dog.
According to the affidavit, Winchester Police Sgt. Chaz Niang entered the home but had to “immediately exit to gain fresh air” due to “animal feces, urine and a strong ammonia smell.”
The following day, the police returned to the home to conduct a more detailed inspection and Sgt. Niang reported the rooms to be dilapidated and filthy. Portions of the home, such as the kitchen ceiling, looked like they were ready to collapse.
Following the first search of the home, police removed four cats and two dogs. According to the court records, the poor souls were forced to live in their feces and urine in a laundry room without water or food. They showed signs of varying health maladies, including missing fur, red raw skin and bloody noses.
The couple lived in the home with the animals and three children aged 10, 12, and 14 years old.
The children and the couple slept in one bedroom and the only toilet in the home was backed up and filled to the brim with piles of feces and urine.
CARR and STOVER were arrested on November 12, 2024, and charged with six counts of animal cruelty and three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
STOVER was released from the Northwestern Regional Adult Detention Center on a $2,500 unsecured bond.
CARR was released on her own recognizance and is scheduled to be arraigned on November 22, 2024, Winchester General District Court on the animal cruelty charges.
I reached out to Winchester Police Interim Chief Josh Berry to request additional information about the Voiceless Victims but he declined to disclose details about them and in an email, he said: “Given the sensitive nature of the case, since it's active and pending in court, and there are juvenile victims involved, we will not comment any further on the case at this time.”
I took the liberty of naming the deceased dog Lake for the tribute image. Should his/her given name be made public, I will rectify it accordingly.
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Voice For Us Disclaimer: 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.
STOVER’s mugshot shared from the Northwestern Regional Adult Detention Center
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