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Bradford(PA)Era Bradford, Pennsylvania A warrant and statewide "be on the lookout" bulletin have been issued for a woman wanted in an incident where the remains of 21 Great Danes were found last week at a West Corydon Street residence. Bradford Township Police said Friday that Cheryl Ann Magnotta, 59, formerly of 320 W. Corydon St., was supposedly seen Friday in the Bradford area. "However, she's gone," an officer said. The BOLO means law enforcement agencies throughout the state will be seeking to apprehend Magnotta. According to court records at District Judge Rich Luther's office, Magnotta is facing charges of 21 counts of cruelty to animals, third-degree misdemeanors; and 41 counts of scattering rubbish, summary offenses, for the incident. According to an affidavit of probable cause for the warrant issued for Magnotta's arrest, at 3:20 p.m. on June 12, police were requested to assist McKean County Humane Officer Tony Danias at 320 W. Corydon St. in Bradford Township in reference to a possible cruelty to animals case. Upon arrival, police met Danias along with Bradford Township Code Enforcement Officer Merle Silvis; the current property owners, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in care of Ocwen Federal Bank; and the owners' agent, Jack Buckles of Rocking Horse Realty in Smethport, who was sent to clean up the property. Buckles told police that upon checking the property for occupancy and preparation for sale, he found what appeared to be remains of two domestic dogs in a kennel area of an out building located on the property. The bodies, which were in a state of decomposition, appeared to have died from starvation lying inside the kennel, where the owner, believed to be Magnotta, left the remains, according to the affidavit. Buckles had said the door to the building was nailed shut so the dogs had no way of getting out. The affidavit stated that an open blue tarp was lying about five feet away from the out building with the bones of what appeared to be another domestic dog. A skull was lying adjacent to the tarp. Police noted several tarps and rugs lying about the property in a position that appeared to be covering other possible remains of animals, as well as other out buildings that appeared to have had additional kennels. Police also noted the property had a very strong dead animal odor and the entire property was in disarray. Several disassembled kennels are also located on the property, according to the affidavit. Police had said Magnotta was a known breeder/owner of Great Danes. She reportedly won a Great Dane Club of America competition with Great Danes she owned in 2004. According to the affidavit, Magnotta did have a registered kennel license as of 2001 under the name Swift Dane Kennel. Bradford Township Police have observed Great Danes in the care and custody of Magnotta on numerous occasions over the past seven years at the residence. Magnotta was last known to be at 320 W. Corydon St. on June 11 with a 26-foot U-Haul moving truck, rented from Olean, N.Y., to move items from the residence since the property was under foreclosure by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, according to the affidavit. Danias reportedly cited Magnotta, who police had said was believed to be a native of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area, in the past for neglect of dogs. The affidavit stated at 9:46 a.m. on June 14, police obtained a search warrant for the home, outbuildings and the enclosed area of land around the dwelling of the 320 W. Corydon St. property. At 10:32 a.m., police, along with Danias, executed the search warrant and found the remains of 21 Great Danes. The bodies were in various forms of decomposition upon the property, both inside kennels and outside throughout the property. The decomposed bodies located outside the structures were both wrapped and covered with blue plastic tarps and old carpet remnants. Police noted no food or water dishes inside or around the kennel areas, according to the affidavit. It was reported that the dogs, including adult and younger dogs, were believed to have died in a period of three to nine months ago and were covered by lime, soil, debris and even dog feces. Police found documents relating to the ownership, breeding, kennel license and other various records pertaining to raising of domestic dogs in the search, according to the affidavit. Police found additional tarps and carpet remnants at the residence matching that of the ones used. Police located 32 plastic bags of dog feces, which were scattered throughout the property of 320 W. Corydon St., as well as property adjacent to the north owned by another person, according to the affidavit. Police said a few of the dog carcasses were sent to a local veterinarian for autopsies, and the rest are being kept as evidence. Police did not say Friday if results have come back on the autopsies.
Newsday Bradford, Pennsylvania The former owner of a property where more than 20 Great Dane carcasses were found earlier this month has been charged with animal cruelty.
Police issued a warrant for the arrest of Cheryl Ann Magnotta, 59, after she was charged with 21 counts of animal cruelty, Bradford Township police said Friday.
Magnotta was also charged with 41 summary counts of scattering rubbish on the property, police said.
Each of the animal cruelty counts is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in prison.
On June 12, a real estate agent found two decomposing Great Dane carcasses behind a nailed-shut kennel door and called authorities. Authorities later found the remains of more than 20 dogs that had apparently starved, according to a police affidavit.
Magnotta had a registered kennel license as recently as 2001 and was known to breed the dogs, police said.
Authorities believe the dogs died three to nine months ago. Some were covered with lime and soil and others were wrapped in tarps and carpet.
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