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Fifth Suspect Arrested In Cantonment Animal Cruelty Case
May 30, 2014
A fifth and final suspect has been arrested in connection with a Cantonment animal cruelty case.
George Washington Ahl, 76, was charged with three counts of causing the cruel death, pain and suffering of animals, and four counts of unlawful confinement of animals. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on his own recognizance.
Last month, George Edward Kenneth Ahl, 23, Casey Tyler Ahl, 19, Frances Rebecca Ahl, 72, and Randolph Hewell Rigby, 43, were arrested on similar charges. The charges against the five defendents were brought directly by the State Attorney’s Office.
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 Friday morning, George Edward Kenneth Ahl, remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $55,000. Casey Ahl and Frances Ahl were released from jail on a $16,000 bond, and Randolph Rigby was free on a $21,000 bond. Each has pleaded not guilty the charges against them.
Editor’s note: George Washington Ahl’s mugshot was unavailable from the Escambia County Jail Thursday night.
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
6 Responses to “Fifth Suspect Arrested In Cantonment Animal Cruelty Case”
Only the same treatment they neglectfully and purposely did to these animals …the people deserve the same treatment and do not waste tax dollars to keep em and feed em..
These people need to be held accountable for these crimes of neglect. Please? Punish them with harsh penalties so they think twice before they harm another living creature. Thank you
These people need to be held accountable for this crime of severe neglect. Please!
Too many people involved to not do something about this. It is beyond me how a human would/could allow an animal to go hungry. All humans involved should go to jail and suffer some of the same effects that these animals endured.
I will never understand how anyone could watch this happen. These people have something fundamentally wrong with them.
Released on his own recognizance? Why? So he can go hurt or kill another animal? If this is not a felony it should be and he should be in jail! In other states it is a felony to cause injury or death to an animal! I am disappointed in our judges that they would even think of doing this!