A WOMAN LINKED TO A SATANIC CULT ARRESTED
A Somerset woman is facing felony cruelty to animals charges after 40 dead animals were allegedly found in a deep freezer, along with other animals who were alive and left in deplorable conditions in a residence.
Amber Russell, 29, was arrested after police were contacted by someone who had concerns of animals abuse and cruelty at a residence on Gary Lane on July 1, 2024. The person told officers that there were allegedly multiple animals living in poor conditions and that there was a deep freezer that was storing at least 10–15 dead cats inside the residence, according to the criminal complaint.
When Somerset Borough police officers arrived at the residence, they noted that a foul smell could be noticed from the outside. Investigators met with the person living there, Russell, and explained that they were conducting a welfare check, asking for consent to search the residence. Russell allegedly consented and unlocked the door for police.
Once the door was open, officers noted that the smell became “strong and overwhelming,” with animal fecal matter seen throughout the residence, according to the affidavit. There was a litterbox in the kitchen that was allegedly overflowing, along with a total of 13 cats and one dog living in “very poor conditions not suitable for human or animal occupancy,” the complaint reads.
Police then asked Russell to open the deep freezer, where they allegedly found a total of 40 frozen animals, consisting of the following:
- 31 cats
- 6 rabbits
- Two dogs
- One puppy
The animals were all wrapped in plastic bags or puppy pads, according to the affidavit. Officers then contacted the Somerset County Animal Rescue team, along with the Humane Police officers of the PA ANIMAL PROTECTIVE SOCIETY SPCA who also assisted in the investigation and removal of animals.
Police spoke with Russell about the deep freezer, where she claimed that the property manager did not want any animals buried on the property and that freezing them was the best option, according to the complaint. Russell added that she didn’t have the heart to place the animals in dumpsters.
Russell allegedly told investigators that the animals had been stored in the freezer since last winter and that some were going to be cremated. She said that some of the cats had died as kittens and that someone may have been poisoning them, according to the affidavit.
Officers noted that Russell was “unclear” on the specifics of how every animal died. Investigators ultimately determined that the living conditions of the residence were not suitable for animal or human occupancy due to the toxic air quality and the uncleanliness of the inside. Due to the circumstances, police filed and received a search warrant for the residence.
Members of the Somerset County Animal Rescue Team arrived on scene and gathered all the living animals, with the dog found to be in poor condition, with areas of hair missing, as well as red and irritated skin. The dog was taken to a vet and found to have a severe alopecia diagnosis over most of its body and a severe ear infection.
The 13 cats removed were taken to the Somerset County Humane Society, where most were found to have ear mites, one had a tapeworm and two had respiratory infections.
Investigators collected all the animals found in the freezer and housed them in the Somerset County Coroner’s off-site cooling area. Two cats, two dogs, and two rabbits from the freezer were then transported to the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System to determine the cause of death.
On July 31, 2024, the cause of death for the two cats and two rabbits was determined to be malnutrition, with the two dogs’ deaths being ruled as undetermined.
Since the time of the seizure, police noted that all 13 cats found inside the residence have been housed and cared for at the Somerset County Humane Society. Russell allegedly refused to have the cats placed for adoption through the humane society, with many requests made for her to forfeit the animals, according to the complaint.
During the time, the cats have been vaccinated, cared for, fed, and many veterinarian check-ups have been made. The humane society has endured the cost of caring for the animals, which has totaled $3,094.23. The Somerset County Humane Society is requesting restitution be paid by Russell.
Russell is now facing four felony charges of aggravated cruelty to animals – causing death, 34 misdemeanor charges of cruelty to animals, and 28 summary charges of neglect of animals. She was in the Somerset County Prison until a few days ago when she was released
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