Deric Rashawn Beale and Barbara Frances Jones were arrested September 17 after a Henrico County grand jury indicted them in an investigation into five dogs found dead in a parking lot, police said.
The dogs were discovered on Monahan Road on June 10. Police said necropsy findings were consistent with an environmental factor, including heat. That account does not establish heat as the confirmed cause of death.
What the 40 counts cover
The September 14 indictments contain 20 counts against each person: five felony counts of animal cruelty causing death, five counts of improper disposal of an animal and 10 misdemeanor cruelty counts. The widely reported figure of 40 is the combined total.
Police said investigators revisited earlier animal related calls and examined digital evidence before seeking the indictments. The charges are allegations; neither defendant has been convicted in this case.
Sources
How we reported this: Based on the police announcement and local reporting. Buddylio has not independently obtained the indictments or necropsy reports.