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MARGARET FRANCES HORNBERGER and SAMUEL AARON RICHARDS accused of leaving animals in cages to die

Updated: Oct 19, 2022

- Florida, USA -


The DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release that an animal cruelty investigation conducted by Sgt. Bailey, Sgt. Proudfit, Cpl. Buck, and Det. Friend, led them to a property on 8789 SW Hampshire Avenue in Arcadia.


Inside the residence, officers found multiple deceased animals along with animals who were malnourished and some who later “needed to be euthanized,” stated the release.


Officers also found multiple bags of animal food and referring to 21-years-old SAMUEL AARON RICHARDS and 21-years-old MARGARET FRANCES HORNBERGER (both pictured), the sheriff’s office said: “…but these two individuals decided to leave the animals in their cages and not feed them.”


The sheriff’s office said the residence was in complete disarray and was littered with animal feces and urine.


HORNBERGER and RICHARDS were arrested on Thursday, October 13, 2022, and each charged with eight counts of keeping animals in an enclosure without exercise or air, and two counts of animal cruelty and causing torment or death to an animal.


The pair were booked into the DeSoto County Jail on $8,000 total bond.

Online arrest records show that HORNBERGER was released while RICHARDS is still in custody.


Court records show that both HORNBERGER and RICHARDS are scheduled to be arraigned on November 28, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. before Judge Don Thomas Hall.


DeSoto County Animal Control took custody of the surviving animals who will be in their care until they have been medically cleared.


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.




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SAMANTHA RAE O’HARA arrested after dead, sick, and malnourished animals were found in her apartment

- Idaho, USA -


On the evening of Tuesday, October 11, 2022, several animals were removed from a Coeur d’Alene apartment and the Coeur d’Alene Police Department charged 30-years-old SAMANTHA RAE O’HARA (pictured), with twenty misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals and one misdemeanor count of injury to a child.


Police responded to O’HARA’s apartment on Tuesday for a welfare check; the animals were found to be living in unsanitary conditions, and conditions inside the apartment were poor.


CDA Press reports that police said the “unbearable” smell of urine, feces, and rot, made it hard for officers to breathe and their eyes were also burning.


Officials found approximately a hundred rodents who were being kept in cages, twelve cats and kittens, seven dogs, a rabbit, and many reptiles including ball pythons, bearded dragons, geckos, and turtles.

An algae-coated tank was found full of deceased fish and dead reptiles were also discovered.


According to CDA Press: “Police said the cats and dogs appeared malnourished and several were clearly sick. Living in their own filth, some animals were locked in crates or kept in rooms without food, water or human interaction. In one crate, some of the cats had been eating the body of a dead pet.”


The Kootenai Humane Society is now caring for the cats, the dogs and the rabbit.

The rodents have been placed in foster care, while many reptiles were left at the apartment to be cared for by a third party. Animal Control will follow up on their condition.


A second suspect in the case told police that he and O’HARA took the animals from “bad homes” and the situation became overwhelming.

Police have not revealed the identity of the second suspect and have not yet filed charges against him.


In the apartment authorities also found a child who was placed in the care of family.


O’HARA was placed under arrest and the following day at her first court appearance she pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Online arrest records show that O’HARA was released after posting a $300 bail.


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.




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KATHERINA L. CASSATA arrested – Dead and malnourished animals found on her farm

- New York, USA -


Otsego County Sheriff Richard J. Devlin, Jr. announced the arrest of 42-years-old KATHERINA L. CASSATA (pictured), who is now facing nine counts of animal cruelty under New York’s agriculture and markets law.


In a news release Sheriff Devlin said that the arrest is the result of a search warrant executed on September 16, 2022, on a farm in the Town of Butternuts.


An investigation was launched after receiving reports about deceased and maltreated and malnourished animals on the farm.


According to the release, “Assistance for the animals through various agencies to include to Susquehanna SPCA were offered to the defendant over the course of several months in an attempt for the defendant to remedy the concerns on her own.”


On September 12, 2022, the Otsego County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint regarding a deceased alpaca on the property. This led to the execution of the aforementioned search warrant, and officials removed nineteen horses, two pigs, a cat, a donkey, and a llama.

Officials also found the deceased alpaca.


The animals who were removed from the farm were evaluated by two different veterinarians.


Sheriff Devlin said that based on the veterinary reports and the conditions of the farm, CASSATA was arrested on September 20, 2022, and charged with nine counts of overdriving/abuse of animals/failure to provide sustenance.


CASSATA, of Gilbertsville, was issued an Appearance Ticket returnable to the Town of Butternuts Court at a later date.


The Otsego County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Susquehanna SPCA, Otsego County Office of Emergency Services and private citizens.


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.



CASSATA’s booking photograph provided by the Otsego County Sheriff’s Office.



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