Summerdale police working on the extreme animal cruelty case discovered last week said they uncovered two dozen animals buried in mass graves today and suspect there may be many more.
"We could keep digging and finding more forever," said Summerdale Police Chief Eddie Ingram. "We have stopped because we found enough evidence to corroborate what witnesses told us."
Roberta Dueitt, 63, of Summerdale and her daughter, Sharon Nicole Dueitt of Robertsdale, face 20 felony charges and potentially hundreds of misdemeanor animal cruelty charges in the case. The felonies could carry up to five years each in prison upon conviction.
Baldwin County Humane Society board members announced today that the women have signed over ownership of the animals to their organization. Society leaders said they would be looking for owners who had sheltered their pets with the Dueitts.
Animals continue to undergo veterinary treatment and will eventually be available for adoption. Donations can be made to the Baldwin County Humane Society by calling 251-928-4585, or online at www.baldwinhumane.org.
Ingram said several of the buried animals were found in mass graves, indicating they likely died around the same time. He said officers first considered reports that the women operating the shelter were mentally challenged, but ruled that out.
"I think they are hoarders, definitely," Ingram said. "But they knew right from wrong, and they were capable of operating a business. They were responsible for their actions."
Ingram said the women "called this a nonprofit, but we have had several witnesses come forward saying they were selling the dogs that were marketable, but neglecting others that were not."
Ingram said the operation "obviously got out of control, but they could have called police or the Humane Society for help. We have had more than 1,000 people call us or come here to help or offer money from around the world. It didn't have to get to this point."
Ingram said officials had contacted the Dueitts' attorney, asking that the women turn themselves in.
The case shocked the area last week when investigators found hundreds of dogs, cats and other species at a nonprofit shelter called "Purple Hearted Puppies" on Baldwin County 36 and at Sharon Dueitts' residence in Robertsdale. Officers found dozens of animals dead or dying. Each woman was initially charged with 20 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty.
"Potentially, you’re looking at hundreds more charges, one for each animal as the investigation unfolds," Summerdale police Officer Trent Dennis said.
Officials said additional state charges should be filed by Friday.
Ingram said Wednesday that witnesses living near Purple Hearted Puppies told investigators that the facility had been abandoned and no one had been at the site for more than a week before officers arrived.
Police were called after a resident reported seeing the carcass of a cat on the grounds and no people tending to the animals, police said earlier. Officers found dead dogs in several kennels and some carcasses had been eaten by the other starving animals in the same pens, Ingram said.
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