Jessica Hoff, 47, is facing a criminal negligence charge as well as more than 50 counts of aggravated animal cruelty as she was arrested on Friday 21 March. She allegedly left her elderly mother who suffers from dementia with dozens of loose and caged dogs.
The arrest is connected to her mother’s death
LaVonne Hoff, who died in February, was a 76-year-old woman with dementia living in Colorado City with her daughter.
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Now, her daughter, Jessica Hoff, has been arrested in connection with her death, according to a press release given by the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident happened in February
Hoff’s mother was pronounced dead at the scene when deputies arrived at the mother and daughter’s home in Colorado City on 3 February following a report about an unconscious woman.
Deputies said they found multiple loose dogs in the house as well as “approximately two dozen dogs and seven birds in cages in the home.”
Her mother had died from a dog attack
According to the sheriff’s office, an autopsy of LaVonne Hoff’s body later revealed that she had died from a dog attack which caused severe injuries.
The press release from the sheriff’s office said, “LaVonne Hoff reportedly had dementia and required 24-hour care.” It also stated that Jessica Hoff had allegedly left her mother home alone to run errands about 25 miles away in Pueblo.
Jessica had more dogs in her possession
The mother and daughter’s home wasn’t the only place where detectives found dozens of dogs, but they later searched another Colorado City property owned by Jessica where in her possession, they found 54 dogs and seven birds.
The animals were found to be living in bad conditions, causing the woman to be charged with 54 counts of aggravated animal cruelty on top of criminal negligence resulting in her mother’s death, as she was an at-risk individual who needed 24-hour care.
Deputies explained the animals were in poor health
“The dogs and birds were found living in unsanitary conditions and several of the dogs were in poor health,” deputies explained. “The Sheriff’s Office worked with Animal Law Enforcement to seize the dogs and the birds.”
Jessica Hoff is next due in court on 27 March as she has been officially charged with criminal negligence and 54 counts of aggravated animal cruelty.
