UPDATE: ROANE WOMAN ARRESTED IN DEATH OF 22 HORSES - Animals Died Of Malnourishment, 20 Horses Rescued

(01/26/2013)
A Roane County woman has been arrested on multiple charges related to abusing dozens of horses while others died on her farm near Reedy.

Sheriff's deputies say Tory Shadowwolf Morgan, 41, of Reedy has been charged with 36 counts of animal cruelty. They are all misdemeanors.

Morgan was arraigned Friday, and her bond was set at $90,000.

Judge Thomas Evans III issued a warrant for Morgan on 36 counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty, twenty for the horses seized from her farm near Reedy, and sixteen for the horses found dead.

Twenty-two horses were found dead last week, reportedly from starvation, and 20 other horses have been seized and are being cared for in Spencer.

The horses include two stallions, a 5-month-old colt and several mares, Arabians, Paints and other breeds.

Morgan had previous addresses in Sharon, PA and Underhill, VT.

ORIGINAL STORY - Roane County authorities have launched an investigation after 22 horses were found dead on property near Reedy at Seaman Fork Road.

The situation will likely develop into an animal cruelty case, but police did not confirm if charges have been filed.

Maureen Woltmann is a retired veterinarian technician from the Reedy area, told WSAZ-TV, "There were very, very emaciated horses, very thin horses -- eventually I saw dead horses laying on the mountain...This is an animal that cannot fend for itself, it's locked behind a fence with hay on the other side not being fed to it...Abuse for a child, an old person, an animal -- it's against the law, it's against nature, it's against God. I'm sorry, it's just not right."

Police received a report on Thursday after one of the horses died near the road.

When authorities went to the rural area to investigate, they found other horses dead, from what appeared to be malnourishment.

Sources told the Hur Herald the farm had been purchased by a woman who raised horses.

Authorities indicate about 20 horses were discovered alive.

Roane County sheriff's deputies spent the day on the farm on Saturday and seized the 20 horses.

They are being kept at the closed Spencer Livestock Market building east of Spencer.

The animals are quarantined because they were brought to the area from PA. They have been assessed by a veterinarian.

A deputy is reportedly taking care of the horses, but the Sheriff's department is asking for help to get feed and hay.

Donations, contact the Roane County Animal Shelter at 304-927-2555 or the Roane County Sheriff's Office at 304-927-3410.

See wvgazette.com