𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢 𝐇𝐢𝐭𝐞, 𝟕𝟏 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐠𝐞, 𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬: 𝐌𝐜𝐃𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐭 𝐃𝐫. 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐋𝐚 𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝟑/𝟏𝟒/𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 @ 𝟏:𝟓𝟕 𝐩.𝐦.
𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐬: Aggravated Cruelty to Animals
(23 Counts)
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On the evening hours of March 13th, officers with the Morgan City Police Department were called to a residence on McDermott Dr. in Morgan City regarding a welfare concern for the occupants of the residence. Officers observed several perishable items at the front door delivered in the past few days that were not picked up by the residents. Officers attempted to make contact at the front door, but no one answered. Officers then went to the rear of the residence to make contact. While doing so officers noticed what was clearly a dead cat inside the residence along with a strong odor.
Officers subsequently made contact with the occupant of the residence, Ms. Sheri Hite. The investigation led officers to question Ms. Hite regarding the dead pet. Permission was given for officers to enter the residence where an unbearable odor emitted from the residence and the discovery of other dead cats throughout the rooms of the house.
Detectives then secured a search warrant for the residence. On March 14, detectives with the Morgan City Police Department performed an additional search of the residence and discovered 8 dead cats in several rooms and 14 other dead cats in the freezer. Only one cat was found alive and turned over to animal rescue. The deceased cats were turned over for disposal.
Hite stated she recently picked up cats the from the Baton Rouge area to take care of them and explained the frozen cats were kept to be later disposed of.
Hite was subsequently arrested and charged with 23 counts of Aggravated Cruelty to Animals. She remains incarcerated in the Morgan City Jail where she now awaits court proceedings.