Crying kitten led to grisly discovery of dead cats at Kennewick apartment
A Kennewick woman was arrested this week on suspicion of felony animal cruelty after officials reportedly found as many as 70 dead cats and kittens at her apartment.
Susan Reavely, 69, appeared briefly in Benton County Superior Court on Thursday after her arrest the day before at her apartment at the Clearwater Bay Apartments.
She’s being held on investigation of first-degree animal cruelty, a Class C felony. Judge David Peterson set bail at $100,000 and appointed a public defense attorney.
Tri-Cities Animal Services was called to the complex after a neighbor found a live kitten in a bag on a back patio. The resident observed more dead cats in bags and summoned the property manager.
Ben Zigan, shelter manager for Tri-Cities Animal Services, told the Herald that animal control officers found about 70 dead cats in various stages of decomposition. He said it appeared to be a hoarding situation that developed over time.
In court Thursday, the number of dead animals was in dispute and may be closer to 15 to 20.
The animal control agency called the Kennewick Police Department because its officers are fully commissioned and can investigate more serious charges than animal control officers.
Animal control officers have limited commissions and can file only misdemeanor charges.
Investigators found at least seven living kittens, including the one found inside a bag. There were two more groups of three living kittens.
Zingen said the older kittens were eating food on their own at the shelter. The younger ones are being hand fed while officers attempt to trap their mother, still in the apartment.
Animal control officials left traps and are checking them in an attempt to safely remove all the animals.
Reavely’s attorney told Peterson that she uses a wheelchair and walker and barely leaves her house and should be released pending charges. Reavely told Peterson her support dog died last March.
However, Peterson said he was concerned about the number of dead animals that were found and the “complete disregard for life” if there isn’t a mental health issue.
As a result, he set the high bail amount.