~ Update: June 26, 2023 - Charges upgraded to felonies.
The Radcliff Police Department announced that on the morning of Friday, June 23, 2023, 27-years-old MORGAN JADE BARRICK (pictured), was arrested for thirty-six (36) “counts of Felony Torture of Dog/Cat with Serious Physical injury or Death.”
In a news release police explained that the charges stem from a previous incident that began in May 2023, that led to BARRICK’s arrest for misdemeanor Cruelty to Animals of second-degree.
The release goes on to say that “Upon further investigation and collaboration with the University of Ky Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, the Hardin County Office of Animal Control, the Hardin County Attorney’s Office, and the Hardin County Commonwealths Attorney’s Office, the case against Barrick was presented to the Hardin County Grand Jury on 06/22/2023 and they opted to indict Barrick for the felony offenses that were presented to them. Also presented was a case that was in 2022 in which a dog that was in Barrick’s care perished. She was also indicted for the same offense.”
Police said BARRICK was transported to the Hardin County Detention Center.
The same day, she was released on a $5,000 cash bond. BARRICK is due in Hardin County Circuit Court for her arraignment on July 18, 2023.
The Radcliff Police Department arrested 26-years-old MORGAN JADE BARRICK (pictured), owner of Golden Grove Kennels, after twenty-one dogs who were in her care were found deceased at her Radcliff home.
Police said a dog’s guardian attempted to get in touch with BARRICK but was unable to, so on Friday, May 5, 2023, officers were dispatched to BARRICK’s home on Hallmark Place.
At the residence, officers detected an odor of decaying carcasses so a search warrant was obtained and executed.
Officers found thirty-five (35) dogs of various breeds who did not have adequate food or water. Among these dogs, were twelve (12) puppies and two (2) adult dogs who were physically in jeopardy.
According to the citation: “The animals still alive were skinny to the point that bony structures such as rib cages, elbows and hips could easily be identified. There was a very small amount of food located inside the residence and no water bowls were found inside the residence.”
As for the deceased dogs, nineteen (19) were found inside the residence and two (2) were discovered in a van parked outside. The vehicle was registered to BARRICK.
The two Voiceless Victims found in the van were in a kennel and “had been wrapped up in plastic bags with some type of white substance on the carcasses,” stated the citation.
In addition to the twenty-one deceased furbabies, officers also found many pieces of carcasses. Some of them were in trash bags and others had been eaten by other animals.
Hardin County Animal Care and Control removed the live animals.
On the afternoon of Friday, May 5, 2023, BARRICK was booked at Hardin County Detention Center on thirty-five (35) counts of second-degree animal cruelty (Class A), only a Misdemeanor in Kentucky!
Arrest records show BARRICK was released seven hours later after posting a ridiculous $2,500 bail. BARRICK’s arraignment is slated for Monday, May 8, 2023, at 8:30 a.m.
Just think, in Kentucky for lawmakers, the deaths of these innocent dogs are comparable to the following Class A Misdemeanors:
· Cultivation of less than five marijuana plants
· Theft By Unlawful Taking (TBUT) under $500 – shoplifting, for example
· Knowingly selling or transferring a firearm to a convicted felon
· Violation of a protective order (EPO/DVO)
· Possession of burglar’s tools
· Tampering with or rigging a sports contest
I have only listed a few examples. Class A Misdemeanors are punishable by up to twelve (12) months in jail and up to $500 in fines.
Do you agree that the punishment for taking the lives of these precious dogs should be more than a few months in jail and a measly fine? If you do, I beg you, reach out to Governor Andrew Graham Beshear and demand that all acts of animal cruelty are classified as Felonies!
Cyrus’ mom, Ms. Maryann Carter-Laventure, of Massachusetts, boarded him with BARRICK a little over a year ago. At the time Cyrus was only 14-months-old and when she dropped him off with BARRICK, he weighed 146 pounds.
Maryann told The News-Enterprise that she “would regularly ask for photos of Cyrus but would not get any.” She said she was paying BARRICK $600 a week to board and care for Cyrus.
Maryann believes that Cyrus’ death is the result of BARRICK’s actions. She explained to The News-Enterprise: “When I told her I was coming to get him, she ended up feeding him a large meal. He ended up bloating and he died.”
When Maryann picked up the body of her furbaby, he was underweight and had a burnt abdomen, nose and testicles. Two necropsies performed on Cyrus revealed he was only 96 pounds.
For Cyrus’ death, on February 11, 2022, BARRICK is facing a second-degree animal cruelty charge and for this case, BARRICK’s next appearance, a pretrial conference, is set for May 31, 2023, in Hardin District Court.
Maryann created a Facebook page called #JusticeForCyrus where she posts photos of her furbaby and keeps the community informed regarding the progress of the case against BARRICK.
Additionally, Maryann has organized a GoFundMe to support the legal expenses and at the time of this writing, eighty-nine (89) donations have raised $11,550.
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.
BARRICK’s mugshot via Hardin County Detention Center.
