Wolfie Posted August 20, 2005 Report Share Posted August 20, 2005 Original Source: http://www.theindychannel.com/news/4874720/detail.html Dennis A. Hatcher, 25 -and- Michele L. Hatcher, 31Couple's Animals Confiscated From 2nd Home POSTED: 4:37 pm EST August 19, 2005 INDIANAPOLIS -- Twenty dogs and three cats -- some in poor condition -- were confiscated Friday from an Indianapolis home connected to a couple who already had been arrested on neglect charges because of conditions at another residence, authorities said. Authorities said Dennis A. Hatcher, 25, and Michele L. Hatcher, 31, were in the process of moving from a rented residence near Avon to the Indianapolis home, located on the 8600 block of Spring Valley Lane. The Hatchers were arrested in Hendricks County on Thursday after officers found the carcasses of eight dogs and one cat on their Avon-area rental property and animal feces throughout that home, police said. The Hatchers face charges in Hendricks County of neglect of a dependent. The couple's 7-year-old daughter has been placed in the custody of child protective services. On Thursday night, police learned that animals could be at the Indianapolis home. Authorities obtained a search warrant, and on Friday, animal control officers found 23 animals there, RTV6's Jeremy Brilliant reported. "These animals are weak. They are malnourished," Indianapolis Animal Care and Control spokeswoman Media Wilson said. "There were eight puppies involved. There was a great deal of animal feces in the area where the puppies were found." Wilson said the animals would be taken to a shelter and receive veterinary care. "If there is a situation where we can't save an animal, that animal would be euthanized," Wilson said. The Hatchers will face felony animal neglect charges in Marion County, authorities said. Police said animal control officers had been watching the Hatchers for years because they had a high number of animals. Authorities believe neglect problems escalated recently. "This isn't like they didn't know they were supposed to take care of these animals," Hendricks County prosecutor Patricia Baldwin said. Officials said some of the animals taken from the Indianapolis home were in poor shape. "These animals are weak. They are malnourished," Indianapolis Animal Care and Control spokeswoman Media Wilson said. (see additional pictures here) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolfie Posted August 20, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 20, 2005 Original Source: http://www.theindychannel.com/news/4872918/detail.html Dennis A. Hatcher, 25 -and- Michele L. Hatcher, 31Police: Animal Neglect Case Worst Seen In Years POSTED: 11:06 am EST August 19, 2005UPDATED: 12:00 pm EST August 19, 2005 DANVILLE, Ind. -- An Avon, Ind., couple went before a judge Friday morning after officials said they found a number of dead animals and feces scattered through their home. Dennis and Michele Hatcher were being held on $5,000 bond on a neglect charge. Police said the couple's 7-year-old girl lived at the home where the dead animals and feces was discovered. Prosecutors met with animal control officers Friday morning to discuss further charges against the Hatchers. Officials believe several other dead animals have yet to be found. Animal control officials said the only living animal found on the property was a rabbit that's now being nursed back to health at the Hendricks County animal shelter. Eight dogs and a cat were found dead on the couple's property, off County Road 900E. "It's pretty heinous," Hendricks County animal control Chief Anne Lewis said, "anyone who can watch an animal go through this and not come to us to ask for help." Authorities said the Hatchers had been living in a rented home with their daughter. The prosecutor said there are several other charges being considered. "That child is being looked at in terms of her neglect," Hendricks County prosecutor Patricia Baldwin said. "If they treated the animals that way, what was happening?" Police said animal control had been watching the Hatchers for years because of the high number of animals they had. Authorities believe the problem escalated recently. "This isn't like they didn't know they were supposed to take care of these animals," Baldwin said. Hendricks County officials are working with Marion County animal control searching for 10 to 11 more dogs. The couple's daughter was placed in the custody of child protective services. (see additional pictures here) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolfie Posted August 20, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 20, 2005 Original Source: http://www.theindychannel.com/news/4870434/detail.html Dennis A. Hatcher, 25 -and- Michele L. Hatcher, 31Police: Arrests Followed Discovery Of Animal Remains, Dirty HomeParents Face Neglect Charges POSTED: 9:29 pm EST August 18, 2005AVON, Ind. -- An Avon-area couple were arrested and their daughter was placed into protective custody Thursday after officers found smelly animal carcasses on their property and animal feces throughout their home, police said. Dennis A. Hatcher, 25, and Michele L. Hatcher, 31, were arrested shortly after 5 p.m. at their 7-year-old daughter's school in Avon, the Hendricks County sheriff's department said. The department said areas outside and inside the home smelled of animal remains and feces. Officers found the carcasses of eight dogs and one cat on the property Thursday, authorities said. Animal feces were found in "all areas of the living space and garage," the sheriff's department said in a press release. Sheriff's deputies were sent to the home, located on the 1100 block of County Road 900 East, at about noon to help animal control officers with an investigation, the release said. "They (two veteran officers) say they've never, ever seen a home in this condition," Hendricks County sheriff Jim Quearry said. "I could probably get more graphic, but I'll leave that to the imagination." The Hatchers face charges of neglect of a dependent, a Class D felony. Charges relating to the care and condition of animals are expected, the sheriff's department said. Dennis and Michele Hatcher were being held Thursday evening with bond set at $5,000. The family rents the home, the sheriff's department said. Neighbors had reported problems with the dogs on several occasions, but hadn't seen the inside of the home until now. "I think it's atrocious that anyone should live in those conditions," neighbor Sandy McClaine said. "My concern is for the little girl. This isn't her thing to deal with. This is her parents." Michele Hatcher refused to talk to RTV6. (see additional pictures here) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolfie Posted August 20, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 20, 2005 Additional pictures (part of a slideshow) Twenty dogs and three cats -- some in poor condition -- were confiscated Aug. 19 from an Indianapolis home connected to a couple who already had been arrested on neglect charges because of conditions at another residence, authorities said. Authorities said Dennis A. Hatcher, 25, and Michele L. Hatcher, 31, were in the process of moving from the Avon area to the Indianapolis home (pictured), located on the 8600 block of Spring Valley Lane. The Hatchers were arrested in Hendricks County on Aug. 18 after officers found the carcasses of eight dogs and one cat on their Avon-area rental property and animal feces throughout that home, police said. The Hatchers face charges in Hendricks County of neglect of a dependent. The couple's 7-year-old daughter has been placed in the custody of child protective services. Authorities said many of the animals found in the Indianapolis home were weak and malnourished. The Hatchers will face felony animal neglect charges in Marion County, authorities said. This is the Hatchers' Avon-area home. Police said officers found the carcasses of eight dogs and one cat on the property. Animal feces were found throughout the home, police said. The department said areas outside and inside the home smelled of animal remains and feces. Animal feces were found in "all areas of the living space and garage," the Hendricks County Sheriff's Department said in a press release. "They (two veteran officers) say they've never, ever seen a home in this condition," Hendricks County sheriff Jim Quearry said. "I could probably get more graphic, but I'll leave that to the imagination." The Hatchers face charges of neglect of a dependent, a Class D felony. Charges relating to the care and condition of animals are expected, the sheriff's department said. Dennis and Michele Hatcher were being held Thursday evening with bond set at $5,000. The family rents the Avon-area home, the sheriff's department said. "I think it's atrocious that anyone should live in those conditions," neighbor Sandy McClaine said. "My concern is for the little girl. This isn't her thing to deal with. This is her parents." Michele Hatcher refused to talk to RTV6. 8/19/05 -- Animal control officials said the only living animal found on the property was a rabbit that's now being nursed back to health at the Hendricks County animal shelter. "It's pretty heinous," Hendricks County animal control Chief Anne Lewis said. "Anyone who can watch an animal go through this and not come to us to ask for help." "That child is being looked at in terms of her neglect," Hendricks County prosecutor Patricia Baldwin said. "If they treated the animals that way, what was happening?" Police said animal control had been watching the Hatchers for years because of the high number of animals they had. Authorities believe the problem escalated recently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mephisto Posted August 20, 2005 Report Share Posted August 20, 2005 Man, you must have done your research. Three different sources and all of those pictures. I hate it when people get a large number of animals and let them starve like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolfie Posted August 20, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 20, 2005 Actually all one source. The first one had links to the other 2 stories. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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