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MARCUS DUDLEY, ex-Chapmanville Police officer, indicted in connection with missing K9 Officer Chase

- West Virginia, USA -


Back in April, the Chapmanville Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department took to social media to request the public’s assistance in locating K9 Officer Chase.


On April 11, 2023, part of a Facebook post published by the South Charleston Police Department read: “Chase who is a K9 for the Chapmanville Police Department jumped his fence this morning located on 2nd Ave in South Charleston and has not been seen since.”

A week later, in an update the Department advised that K9 Officer Chase had not been located yet.


Months after Officer Chase’s disappearance, his handler, MARCUS DUDLEY (pictured), is facing numerous charges. On Thursday, August 3, 2023, a Kanawha County grand jury indicted DUDLEY on three counts of falsely reporting an emergency, two counts of making false statements and obstructing an officer, and one count of misdemeanor animal cruelty.

At the time of Officer Chase’s disappearance, DUDLEY was a Chapmanville Police officer but lived in South Charleston.


On April 20, 2023, South Charleston Police determined that K9 Officer Chase “did not run away, like the handler initially reported, and was not stolen”, reports Eyewitness News.


Mike Mayes, with Battle Ridge K9, also believes that Officer Chase did not run away. As he explained to Eyewitness News, he has been training K9 Officers for decades and Officer Chase was one of them. Officer Chase finished his training program with Mayes in late March and then was handed over to DUDLEY. Being familiar with Officer Chase’s behavior and temperament, Mayes said that everything about this story just doesn't add up!


Eyewitness News published South Charleston Police Department’s statement regarding the investigation: “South Charleston Police Department conducted an extensive investigation into the disappearance of police K-9 Chase. The investigation was presented to the Kanawha County Grand Jury who returned an indictment against Marcus Dudley. SCPD has received a tremendous amount of community support and assistance in its efforts to find Chase. Unfortunately, he has yet to be located. However, SCPD remains committed to finding Chase.”


It’s unclear whether DUDLEY will be taken into custody to face arraignment in circuit court, which is set for August 9, 2023, at 10:30.


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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BILLIE COLEMAN and JOEY LESTER arrested - Severely malnourished dogs and puppies found at their home

- West Virginia, USA -


The Mingo County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of 32-years-old BILLIE COLEMAN and 34-years-old JOEY LESTER (both pictured) both of Baisden.


On Sunday, June 11, 2023, a deputy responded to a home along Crick Hill Road in Gilbert Creek after receiving an anonymous tip about dogs who appeared to be neglected.


At the home, the responding deputy discovered many dogs and puppies who were severely malnourished with their ribs and bones showing. One dog was discovered inside the residence, three were found outside in the back lot, and another one was found on the porch of the home in a clear tote, along with five newborn puppies.

The deputy reported the dogs did not have any food, water, or shelter.


The Mingo County Sheriff’s Office said that COLEMAN and LESTER, the homeowners, admitted the dogs were theirs.


After leaving the home, the deputy found a bag of dog food and went back to the home to feed the Voiceless Victims. The deputy said the furvictims ate the food rapidly “as if they had not been fed in numerous days.”


COLEMAN and LESTER were arrested and were each charged with five counts of animal cruelty.


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.



COLEMAN and LESTER’s mugshots and dogs pictures shared from the Mingo County Sheriff’s Office.


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DONNA MARIE THOMPSON charged after extremely sick cats and dogs, and 41 dead cats found in two homes

Updated: Mar 28, 2023

- West Virginia, USA -


On March 20, 2023, Randolph County Humane Officer Ron Gooden contacted Deputy Knotts and Cpl. Kyle with the Randolph County Sheriff's Office, about an animal cruelty complaint at a residence in Valley Head.


Officer Gooden advised them that when he and former animal control officer Jim Cain went to the residence, they noticed that the home had no electricity, all windows and doors were closed, and there was an overwhelming odor of urine.

According to a news release by the Randolph County Sheriff's Office, Gooden and Cain further noticed “numerous cats and kittens ‘too many to count’ through the window on the porch.”


Officer Gooden said he saw cat food scattered throughout the floor which was mixed in with the urine and feces on the floor. While at the property, Officer Gooden also heard several dogs barking from inside the residence, and through a window, he saw a number of dogs “standing in feces that had been there so long it was white in color.”


Officers learned from the Randolph County Assessor's Office that the property is owned by 50-years-old DONNA MARIE THOMPSON (pictured) and her sister.


While officials were executing a search warrant, deputies could hear barking from a neighboring property. When they looked inside through a window, they realized that the property was in the same condition as the first one. It turned out that the second home is also owned by THOMPSON and her sister, so a search warrant was obtained for the second property.


The sheriff’s office said both residences were in “deplorable, unlivable condition.”

In both properties were foot-height feces and urine. “The conditions were so severe, hazmat suits and respirators were required to even enter the threshold of both houses,” stated the release.


In one of the two houses, officers found twenty-six cats and eight dogs.

Sadly, officers also discovered twelve deceased cats whose carcasses were in all stages of decomposition with some down to skeletons.

Most of the cats were found inside the sunporch. As stated in the release, “Inside this room, officers had discovered different sections where the cats had attempted to escape, but were rigged shut by bungie cords on the outside, and were blocked by big boxes.”


In the other residence, officers found two dogs locked in the sunporch area. “The door had multiple obstructions there were placed intentionally to keep the dogs from escaping,” said the sheriff’s office. The press release went on to say: “It appeared that the dogs were being thrown food through the back window of the residence. In one section of the house, a large pile of approximately ten deceased cats was located. They were all stacked on top of each other. In the back bedroom, a mother cat with several newly born kittens was found deceased on top of a shelf. Throughout this residence, multiple piles of deceased cats were found in various locations.”

In this property, officials found fourteen cats, three dogs, and sadly, a total of twenty-nine deceased cats.


The sheriff’s office explained that all of the live animals removed from both properties, were “extremely sick” and in “desperate need of medical attention.”


The Randolph County Humane Society assisted the Randolph County Sheriff's Office with this case and is now asking for donations in view of the major intake of furbabies.

If you wish and can afford to help out, please click here. Thank you!


The sheriff’s office said that THOMPSON was charged with ninety-two (92) counts of animal cruelty.


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.



THOMPSON’s mugshot provided to Voice For Us by the Randolph County Sheriff's Office.


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