Chandler, Arizona (3TV/CBS 5) — A woman accused of keeping dozens of dogs in deplorable conditions at her home in Chander now faces 20 additional charges, including felonies.
April McLaughlin, also known as Sidney Taylor McKinley, was rearrested Wednesday in Chandler Municipal Court on 24 counts separate from the 77 misdemeanors she was already charged with.
In September, 55 dogs were seized from her home following numerous reports of neglect, five of which were later euthanized. Detectives also reportedly found a dead puppy in a freezer on the property. She was initially charged with 110 charges, but the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office referred the case back to the Chandler Police Department for further investigation. This led to misdemeanor charges being filed in City Court in November.
“A few weeks ago, we moved forward with the case in Chandler Municipal Court to dispose of the misdemeanor, but it seemed like more action was needed,” Mitchell said at a news conference Wednesday afternoon. “[Police]developed additional evidence, including veterinary evidence, which provided more information about the severity of the injuries to these animals, which enabled them to proceed with new charges.”
McLaughlin was arrested at his Phoenix home shortly before 6 p.m. Tuesday and is being held on $75,000 bail. Her new charges she faces include a total of eight felonies and 16 misdemeanors. Her indictment has not been made public.
In October, McLaughlin filed an appeal seeking the return of the 13 dogs. Last week, a municipal court denied McLaughlin's request for more time to provide documentation on why she should give up her dog. When the deadline passed, her appeal was dismissed.
The Mitchell County Attorney also discussed other high-profile cases at a news conference Wednesday afternoon, including the arrest of a suspect in connection with a teenage boy who was attacked outside a Gilbert fast-food restaurant last August. Tap/click here for more information.
Was there a spelling or grammatical error in your story? Click here to report.
Have a breaking news photo or video? Submit that's for us here Comes with a simple explanation.
Copyright 2024 KTVK/KPHO. All rights reserved.
