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Fourth Suspect Arrested In Cantonment Animal Cruelty Case
April 25, 2014
A fourth person has been charged in connection with a Cantonment animal cruelty case.
George Edward Kenneth Ahl, 23, was arrested Thursday night on charges of causing the cruel death, pain and suffering of animals, and unlawful confinement of animals. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $21,000.
Earlier this month, Casey Tyler Ahl, 19, Frances Rebecca Ahl, 72, and Randolph Hewell Rigby, 43, were arrested on similar charges. The charges against the four were brought directly by the State Attorney’s Office. Authorities said an arrest warrant is outstanding on one additional person in the case.
According to case documents, multiple horses, donkeys and goats were seized from the 400 block of Crowndale Court, while several other animals were found dead on the property.
Escambia County Animal Control officers began their investigation last December. A 17-page document released by the State Attorney’s office details the investigation and provides numerous graphic examples of abuse investigators said they found.
Officers reported finding one horse that was dead and apparently stuck in a fence. Several horses were so malnourished that their bones were protruding, while other had hair loss and marks consistent with a condition called rain rot fungus. Many of the animals had numerous sores and wounds, according to the report. Most were malnourished, and one horse had resorted to eating feces. There was little food available for the animals.
Animal Control also located eight poodles, a doberman and five cats on the property.
One of the malnourished horses, a black Tennessee Walker named Ebony, was taken to Panhandle Equine Rescue for rehabilitation. When officers found Ebony on the property, her bones were showing, her stomach was distended and distended, and she suffered from rain rot.
Over the next several weeks, PER and volunteers worked to save Ebony. She was the subject of several NorthEscambia.com articles as PER and volunteers kept watch over her and raised funds for a sling to help her to her feet. Now, she’s able to walk and run on her own and has gained several pounds.
As of late Friday night, Casey Ahl remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $16,000. Frances Ahl was released from jail on a $16,000 bond, and Randolph Rigby was free on a $21,000 bond. They are due to make their first court appearance May 1. In the meantime, they have been ordered, if released on bond, to not possess any animals.
Pictured above: Escambia County Animal Control, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Escambia County Fire Rescue’s Cantonment Station and volunteers use a makeshift sling to lift Ebony, a horse seized from Crowndale Court in Cantonment.. Pictured below: Ebony, was unable to get on her feet in her stall about a week after she was seized. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Comments
14 Responses to “Fourth Suspect Arrested In Cantonment Animal Cruelty Case”
The animals were not the kids are the old couple they were Randy’s but my family was nice and let him keep the animals on there land because randy had no other place for the animals to go so should the kids and old couple be in jail hell no it makes me mad that randy want do the right thing and step up and tell the truth about who’s animals they really are. If I could ask randy one thing it would be plz tell the truth my family don’t need this.
Why do people never check with Animal control to get help. There has to be someone that can lend a hand. If you can’t afford your animals, don’t let them
die. f
There are people here that are animal lovers and would love to be a blessing to
someone,
It is not a sin to cry for help, but murder is a sin in the eyes of God.
Is the life of an animal more important than the life of a human being? Should the bond for this type of offense be higher or lower than a offense against a human being?
I’m sure the old 74 and 70 something old man and woman tired but no I’m sure there not in good enough health to take care of the animals. Due to the fact one of them has cancer I hear. But then the animals don’t belong to the kids they belong to the old couple I was told, so why are the kids being charged? I’m sure the kids helped but there kids they don’t always no the correct way to take care of an animal much less their self’s. I don’t think kids should be blamed for something they had no control of much less something that is not there’s.
They all go to prison and be treated like they treated there animals. Made property into farm land so they did not have to pay land taxes……
They need stiffer penalties, higher fines, and longer jail time. This is happening to often. Very proud of PER., and tnimal Control for. all the time and. energy they put in to help all animals.
I am so sorry that the animals sufford, but the bond is really low! I hope the judge throws the book at these people( can’t call them animals), animals treat each other better!!!! I will keep saying if you own an animal, you (not the animal) have to give food,water and shelter!!!!!! I know if I can afford an animal before I take it on. This means FOOD, WATER, AND SHELTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Until people understand that to properly care for horses starts at about $200.00
per month, this will continue. And that’s if you own the property the horse stands upon.
WOW!!! I went to school with George, and I’ve seen him recently riding horses in my neighborhood. I literally just recently (like 2-3) months ago asked where I could get my son riding lessons. This is crazy. No wonder the horses acted very irritable. OMG how could someone do that to an animal. I’m ashamed to say that I knew him.
These “people” (or excuses for people) are breathing good air and eating food that more deserving animals should have. Stick these people in a fence and leave them there until the 11th hour just prior to them dying. See if they like it. I won’t call them animals because that is an insult to the animal kingdom. They are lower than a snail trail.
That’s so sick to do that . But sadly there’s a lot ore that needs to be investigated there.
That just makes me sick for someone to do that to a animal.
This makes me sick. These so call people are lower than animals. They need to be locked up with little food and no shelter for a few months. Wonder if they would learn anything?
This is absolutely ridiculous. I’m happy they were arrested. Those poor animals