Man charged after 21 cats found starved in Pennsylvania home

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 15 Oct, 15:34 · Archive

A man is charged with animal cruelty after 21 cats were found dead in a West Newton home where he was living.

Jonathan Thomas Hodgetts, 36, of Charleroi, is charged with 21 counts of aggravated cruelty to animals and related offences. Police said he allowed the cats to starve to death in a North Second Street home in West Newton where he was living on his girlfriend's behalf.

Hodgetts sent his girlfriend photographs of the cats indicating they were in good condition. However, when she visited the home on 25 September, she found the cats in various stages of decomposition. The home was heavily infested with flies and fleas, police said. Unopened packages of cat food sent by the girlfriend remained on the porch.

Police accused Hodgetts of moving out of the home and failing to notify his girlfriend that the animals had been left alone. He was arraigned Tuesday and taken to Westmoreland County Prison after failing to post $5,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 26 October.

How it is being reported

• Man let 21 cats starve to death in Pa. home: policePackages of cat food that the homeowner had sent to the man were on the porch of the home and unopened.PennLive · 15 Oct, 15:09
• Police say man let 21 cats starve to death in West Newton homeA former West Newton man is behind bars after police reported finding 21 dead cats in a home where he was living, according to court papers.TribLIVE · 14 Oct, 19:53

In this story: Jonathan Thomas Hodgetts · West Newton · Charleroi · Westmoreland County

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