Shocking Animal Cruelty Case: Woman Living With Dead Cats In Home
October 30, 2009
A shocking case of animal cruelty and hoarding has been uncovered by authorities — a case where a woman was keeping multiple cats, some of them dead and decomposing, inside her filthy home.
The Humane Society of Escambia County (Ala.) uncovered the unsettling situation in Atmore after receiving several complaints.
“We attempted contact several times with no success until two days ago when the owner did talk with the cruelty investigator,” said Renee Jones, humane society director. “She told me that she had two dead cats that she had been unable to bury and so we offered to help her and we actually went into the backyard and dug two small holes for her. She refused to bring the bodies out or to let us go in to get them.”
That prompted the human society to obtain a search and seizure warrant Thursday morning and execute it at the home, which is located within the Atmore city limits.
Seven cats were seized alive and four dead cats were removed from the home in various stages of decomposition. A Scottish terrier and a cockatiel were also seized.
“The owner of the residence did know that two of the cats were deceased and she had kept them in garbage bags in her utility room for weeks being unable to bring herself to bury them. The owner stated that she did not know that the other two cats were dead although one of them was lying right out in the open. The other had died under a sofa weeks ago,” Jones said.
The living cats were dehydrated, emaciated and infested with fleas and the dog was heavily matted, according to authorities. The animals will receive a more thorough examination from a veterinarian.
“The house was full of feces and urine and the smell was absolutely overwhelming. Humane Enforcement Officers Wes Burkley and Bryan Pugh were covered in fleas and had great difficulty breathing the ammonia laden air throughout the ordeal of locating the cats and capturing them for transport,” according to Jones.
Jones added that there were no children living in the home.
Animal cruelty charges are expected to filed against the woman sometime Friday. The Humane Society of Escambia County (Ala.) is not releasing the woman’s identity at this time as they attempt to seek help for her.
WARNING: Many readers will find the following photos disturbing. For photos from the home submitted by the Humane Society of Escambia County (Ala.), click here.
Pictured top: In a disturbing case of animal cruelty, the decomposing body of a cat was found under this couch inside an Atmore home. Pictured inset: One of the cats rescued from the home by The Humane Society of Escambia County (Ala.). Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Lady Chiefs Fall To Baker; Still Headed To Quarterfinals
October 30, 2009
The Northview Lady Chiefs lost to the Baker Gators in the District 1-1A volleyball tournament finals Thursday night in Bratt, but the Lady Chiefs will have one more shot at advancing in the state tournament.
Northview fell to Baker 21-25, 15-25, 18-25. Thursday night’s win gave the Baker Gators their seventh straight district volleyball title.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the game, click here.
“They did play hard, but the intensity we needed just wasn’t there,” Head Coach Betty Heaton said. This was only the third time in Northview’s history that the team will advance beyond the district. As district runner-ups, the Chiefs will play a quarterfinal game next week on the road against Blountstown at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
“I was hoping we would come out this number one,” Heaton said. “But we do get another chance in the quarter finals. We could progress from there; nothing says the state champ can’t be a second seed in the quarter finals.”
Northview Vs Baker (District Championship Game ) – Varsity
21-25 15-25 18-25
** Baker Winning**
Shawna Montgomery 11 M Kills-3, Digs-3 Aces–1
Caitlin Hall 12 Setter Assists-10, Digs-2, Kills-2,
Angela Rodriguez 12 LS Kills-5, Digs – 5, Aces-3
Raylin Spence 10 LS Kills-1, Aces-1, Digs-4
Record – Overall – 9 -18; District 5 -5
Pictured: Action from the District 1-1A volleyball championship game between Northview and Baker Thursday night in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Photo Gallery: Flomaton Fall Festival
October 30, 2009
From Spiderman to princesses to Michael Jackson and more, characters of all sorts roamed the streets of downtown Flomaton Thursday night during the town’s annual Fall Festival.
NorthEscambia.com was there; click here to see our complete photo gallery.
Pictured top: Hundreds packed the streets of Flomaton Thursday night for a Fall Festival. Pictured inset: Even the King of Pop took part in the festivities. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photos: Bratt Elementary Third Graders ‘Bebop With Aesop’
October 30, 2009
Third graders at Bratt Elementary learned some important lessons Thursday morning as they presented the play “Bebop With Aesop”.
Scenes from classic fairy tales came to life as students learned lessons like “look before you leap”, “don’t count your chickens”, and “honesty is the best policy”.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the play, click here.
Pictured top: Cameron Long (middle) as Aesop in Bebop with Aesop Thursday morning at Bratt Elementary. Pictured inset: The Hare of Tortoise and the Hare fame portrayed by Shelby Bashore. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Two Arrested In Escambia Bar Murder, Robbery Case
October 30, 2009
Two people have been arrested in connection with an October 23 robbery and murder at a Pensacola bar.
Brandon Donnell Davis, 20, of Pensacola, turned himself in to authorities Thursday afternoon. He was named a person of interest in the case earlier this week. Also charged in the case is David Henry Gilchrist, Jr., 20, of Pensacola. He was arrested at his Mayfair area home just before 7 p.m. Thursday. Both suspects were charged with felony murder and robbery. They are being held in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
At about 1:30 Friday morning October 23, two black males entered the Oakcrest Bar on Fairfield Drive in Pensacola. “Once inside, both subjects displayed weapons, during the course of the robbery one of the customers was fatally shot,” Sgt. Ted Roy, public information officer for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, said.
The victim was identified as Jared Ortiz, 24, of Pensacola. An undisclosed amount of money was taken during the robbery.
Photos: Century Library Does Halloween In Big Style
October 30, 2009
It was a spooktacular good time for dozens of area children Thursday afternoon at the Century Branch Library.
During the library’s fourth annual Halloween program, children in a variety of costumes enjoyed lots of treats and cookie decoration.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the event, click here.
Deputies Use Force To Arrest Robbery Suspect After He Rolls Toward Assault Rifle
October 29, 2009
Deputies had to use force to take a 17-year old juvenile into custody last night for the robbery of Pensacola Boulevard Waffle House.
At about 10:30, a black male later identified as Denzel James Reeves Wright, 17, entered the Waffle House on Pensacola Boulevard just north of I-10 armed with an assault rifle and demanded and received cash from the register. He then fled the store on foot.
Deputies and a K-9 unit tracked Wright down Broad Street where the K-9 alerted on some bushes where a black male and an assault rifle could be seen.
“The suspect initially refused commands to come out of the bushes and relinquish the weapon. Deputies approached and the suspect placed the weapon on the ground next to him. As Deputies approached the suspect to handcuff him the suspect rolled toward the assault rifle as if to re-arm himself,” according to Sgt. Ted Roy, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. “The suspect was struck in the face by deputies and then handcuffed without further incident.”
Wright will be charged with robbery with a firearm, use of a firearm during the commission of a felony and resisting arrest with violence, Roy said. He is being held without bond as a juvenile.
Investigators are reviewing videotape for previous robberies, including the Wednesday robbery of a nearby Waffle House and a Tom Thumb on Pine Forest Road, to determine if Wright might be involved in those crime, Roy said.
Rabid Cat Attacks: Six People Bitten, Scratched Or Exposed To Rabies
October 29, 2009
Six more people — including at least one animal control worker — were exposed to rabies following an incident with a rabid cat in the McDavid area.
The Escambia County Health Department confirms the incident occurred, but they won’t confirm the location of the incident, citing concerns that identifying the community would violate health privacy laws. But NorthEscambia.com has learned the incident occurred Friday night near McDavid.
According to a source familiar with the incident, a woman was bitten outside her home. She retreated inside her house and called for help from a neighbor because she feared going back outdoors where the cat remained. We are told that four or five people total were bitten or scratched by the animal. Some those attacked by the cat were attempting to trap the cat. Health department officials would confirm that an animal control worker called to the scene was also “exposed” to rabies.
“At least six people were exposed to this feral cat,” according to Molly Payne-Hardin, spokesperson for the Escambia County Health Department, “some during the course of trying to trap it.”
The entire North Escambia area is under a rabies alert until November 29. The alert was first issued at the end of August after at least three incidents involving rabid animals — a dog was bitten by a rabid raccoon in May on Crabtree Church Road in Molino, a dog was bitten by a rabid racoon on Handy Road in Cottage Hill in August and a person was bitten by a rabid fox somewhere in North Escambia in August.
The rabies alert was extended in September after the health department received laboratory-confirmation of rabies in a skunk and two raccoons. The skunk and raccoons were sent for testing after interacting with pets and, in one case, a pet owner. These positive tests were in addition to the rabid animals that prompted the August alert.
Payne-Hardin said there were no immediate plans to further extend the rabies alert after the incident involving the rabid cat.
“Rabies will kill humans and their pets if it is not treated,” said Dr. John Lanza, director of the Escambia County Health Department. “I urge residents to keep their pets vaccinated, to stay away from wild animals, and to take basic precautions to keep wild animals from coming to your home.”
In all of the recent incidents, Payne-Hardin said there is one common denominator.
“All of the rabid animals were attracted to pet food that was left outside,” she said. “It is import to not leave pet food outdoors after your pet has ate, even it you bring it in just for the night.”
The rabies alert is for all of North Escambia, from Muscogee Road north to the Alabama state line, including all areas between the Escambia and Perdido rivers north of Musocogee Road.
First Students In North Escambia Receive H1N1 Vaccine
October 29, 2009
Wednesday, dozens of children at Jim Allen Elementary became the first students in the North Escambia area to receive the H1N1 vaccine.
The H1N1 vaccination clinics will eventually be offered at K-12 public schools in the county. Eric Gilmore, Escambia County’s director of public health preparedness, said recently that he could not provide a timetable for vaccinations at North Escambia schools due to a short supply of the vaccine. He said that students would be given vaccination permission forms about a week prior to the vaccination date at their individual school.
The school vaccinations are expected to be completed by the end of November.
Woman Gets 20 Years In Prison For DUI Death Of Bicyclist
October 29, 2009
Christina Rae Rivkin was sentenced to a total of 20 years in prison for the June death of a Pensacola man riding his bicycle to work so that his wife could use the family’s only car.
Rivkin was sentenced Wednesday for the June 10 DUI death of Michael Steele. After she serves her 20 year sentence in state prison, she will be on probation for another 20 years, and she will never be allowed to have a driver’s license again.
At her sentencing, Rivkin faced up to 20 years in prison on charges of DUI manslaughter, leaving the scene of crash and having her third DUI. She entered a guilty plea on the charges back in September.
When Rivkin hit and killed Steele on June 10, her blood alcohol level was more than three and a half times the legal limit, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The FHP said Rivkin’s blood alcohol levels tested at .297 and .295. The legal limit in Florida is .08. The FHP said Rivkin was so drunk that she did not know her own name when she hit the bicyclist. She left the scene, and nearly hit a deputy’s cruiser when she returned about an hour later.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Rivkin was traveling westbound on Nine Mile Road when she crossed the white line near Brewster Street and struck Steele as he was riding his bicycle about 11:15 p.m. Troopers said Steele and his bicycle were dragged under Rivkin’s GMC Yukon for about a quarter of a mile. Rivkin then fled the scene.
A passerby called 911 after discovering the body in the roadway. About an hour later, Rivkin returned to the scene, where she “skidded to an abrupt stop nearly striking the patrol car of Deputy Mark Smith,” the FHP report said. She “appeared extremely intoxicated. She smelled strongly of alcoholic beverage and her speech was slurred. She could not walk without assistance. (She) could not remember her name or say where she was,” the report continued.
Rivkin, according to the FHP, refused to perform a breath test, and a blood sample was taken to determine her blood alcohol level.
“He jumped out in front of me. What was I suppose to do?” Rivkin told a trooper at the scene.
The FHP says that the front of Rivkin’s vehicle had damage consistent with hitting the bicyclist, and “there appeared to be blood on the front of her vehicle.”
Rivkin had at least two prior DUI arrests and five other moving violations, according to the FHP.
Steele was riding his bicycle to work as part of the stock crew at the Nine Mile Road Winn Dixie when the accident occurred, according to family members. Steele and his wife, Brittney, 20, only owned one car, and family members said he wanted his wife to have the car for her morning commute. He rode the bicycle so that she did not have to drive him to work so that she would be well rested for her job.