Pike County Man Arrested Following Animal Cruelty Investigation

A Pike County man has been arrested after Kentucky State Police investigated reports of neglected and deceased animals at a residence in the South Williamson area.

According to an arrest citation, troopers from KSP Post 9 responded to a home on New Camp Road on July 19 after receiving a complaint about several dead cats on the property and concerns that dogs at the residence were not being properly cared for.

When officers arrived, they reportedly found three dogs roaming through the neighborhood. A nearby resident then showed investigators the backyard, where troopers observed two deceased cats along with what appeared to be additional decomposing animal remains.

During the investigation, troopers learned the home’s occupants had been staying at another location. One resident told investigators he had not been back to the property for approximately two weeks and stated that Joseph E. Newcomb, 34, of Hardy, had been staying there. He also told police he had moved his own cat to another location because the home reportedly did not have running water.

MORE INFO BELOW THESE PAID ADVERTISEMENTS & OR REFERRALS

When questioned by investigators, Newcomb said he had released the dogs because they had been getting inside the house. He also claimed the deceased cats had already been buried. Troopers noted, however, that the cats had reportedly still been visible during an earlier visit to the property.

Investigators also reported finding a severely underweight dog inside the residence. According to the citation, Newcomb told troopers the animals had already eaten all of the food that was available.

A neighbor also provided photographs taken over several days that allegedly showed seven deceased cats, bringing the reported total to nine dead cats. The images also reportedly showed several emaciated dogs and a severely malnourished cat that the neighbor removed from the property to care for.

Joseph E. Newcomb was arrested and lodged in the Pike County Detention Center. He is charged with 14 counts of torture of a dog or cat.

All criminal charges are allegations. Every person charged with a crime is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.