New Details Emerge in Animal Cruelty Investigation

Dismembered animals, bowls of blood and pet parts in a freezer…just some of the horrifying details found at a home in the East. The case has a lot of people outraged and tonight we share some additional details are emerging on this story we first reported yesterday.

Justin Scally, Director of Animal Control in Wayne County, tells me that they made the gruesome discovery more than a month ago back on December 3rd to be exact. The agency received a phone tip about the activity happening at Lawton McKenzie’s home that day and investigated.

McKenzie was arrested Tuesday afternoon and charged with 3 counts of cruelty to animals.   
McKenzie has bonded out of the Wayne County Jail. All of the animals that survived and were rescued were taken from McKenzie’s home on December 3rd. Criminal charges were not brought against McKenzie until New Year’s Eve when investigators were able to complete enough of their investigation to press charges. According to animal control this isn’t the first time they’ve dealt with McKenzie.

Scally says, “We have been out for basic neglect, as far as dogs without shelter in the past, but nothing of this magnitude.“

We wanted to know what is being done with the animals that were rescued. We’ve learned that the livestock are all in the care of area farmers, while the dogs that were seized will remain in protective custody at Animal Control until the courts say they’re ready to be adopted. Authorities are still investigating the case. For more details on this investigation please go to our home page and type in the keyword: “Investigation.”