'Abused' animals found with body in filthy van

 
Cruelty charges: Alan Stout, Gregory Stout, and Alva Stout of Arizona
Bo Wilson16 July 2013

Three men face charges of animal abuse after the body of a 73-year-old woman was found in a van that also contained 35 neglected animals.

Police in Phoenix, Arizona, are investigating the death of Lola Mae Stout, who was found on Sunday in the cockroach- and spider-infested van.

Thirteen filthy animal carriers containing 12 dogs, 22 cats and one pigeon were also found. The cats were put down, three dogs have died and the others might have to be put down.

Mrs Stout’s husband, Alva Stout, 79, and her sons, Alan Stout, 42, and Gregory Stout, 44, were arrested on suspicion of 35 counts of animal abuse and mistreatment.

The sons told police that their mother died on a trip to Quartzsite, so they put her body in the van and drove back to Phoenix. Alva Stout says his wife was alive when they got into the van.

Police said Mrs Stout had medical conditions which required specific care, including prior strokes, high blood pressure, goiter and schizophrenia.

Arizona Humane Society spokeswoman Bretta Nelson called it a “very, very bad case”.

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