CHANDLER, Ariz. — The Chandler Police Department has again arrested a woman in connection to an animal abuse and hoarding case involving dozens of dogs found in "horrific" conditions inside of her home.
According to police, April McLaughlin (also known as Sydney Taylor McKinley) was arrested on Nov. 14 after first being arrested back in September.
Mclaughlin made a court appearance in Chandler Municipal Court on Nov. 15. She was issued a $1,000 bond. The judge ordered her to have no contact with animals and remain in the state. McLaughlin is scheduled for another court appearance on Nov. 30.
McLaughlin's arrest comes after more than a hundred charges against her were dismissed by the Maricopa County Attorney's Office and sent back to the Chandler Police Department for further investigation.
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The new charges were submitted to the attorney's office after Chandler police reviewed further evidence in the case.
Police said McLaughlin is facing numerous charges:
- 49 counts - Cruelty to animals (neglect or abandonment), class one misdemeanor
- 28 counts - Cruelty to animals (failing to provide medical attention), class one misdemeanor
- 9 counts - Cruelty to animals (subjecting animal to cruel mistreatment), class five felony
- 9 counts - Cruelty to animals (cruel neglect or abandonment), class one misdemeanor
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said she had not reviewed the case as of Wednesday afternoon.
“There was some additional investigation that was done. So, it’s not just a matter of rereviewing what we’d already seen. We have to look at some new information and making a decision on that," Mitchell said.
Mitchell originally dismissed more than 100 counts after McLaughlin was first arrested in September. She had said the charges weren't sufficient to take the case out of the hands of the city prosecutor.
Now, she said they'll have to work together to ensure there's no crossover in court.
“If they prosecute the same offense then there’s a double jeopardy issue. So, we’re going to have to coordinate with them to make sure that that doesn’t happen, Mitchell said. "It’s possible that if there are felony charges to be had, we might take an additional cases, we just have to look to see what’s there.”
More than 50 dogs were removed from McLaughlin's home from which she ran an animal rescue.
Many of the dogs were found in what the Arizona Humane Society described as "horrific" conditions. Many were covered in feces, had open wounds and were in need of medical attention.
The Arizona Humane Society said at least five of the dogs had to be euthanized because of the condition they were in.
Investigators said five puppies were found frozen in McLaughlin's freezer.
McLaughlin's mother was also found to be living in her Chandler home. The woman told investigators she has slept on the couch for the past three years because the bedrooms of the home were used to house dogs. McLaughlin was facing one count of vulnerable adult abuse in connection.
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