North Carolina Woman Arrested After Discovery of Skeletonised Dogs and Starving Kittens in Hoarding House

A 66-year-old woman from Raleigh is facing three felony and three misdemeanour animal cruelty charges after sheriff's deputies found the skeletonised remains of three dogs and three severely underweight kittens inside her Wake County home.

Karen Sue Tupman was arrested following a tip-off from a veterinarian who contacted authorities after animals she brought to a clinic were found to be severely underweight.

Deputies Confront Overpowering Stench and Cluttered Rooms

Deputies said they struggled to open the front door because clutter was obstructing the entrance. Court documents describe the home as filled with piles of items that blocked access to several rooms, restricting movement through the property and making it difficult for deputies to carry out their search.

One deputy reported that the smell inside was so strong it caused her eyes to water as soon as she stepped through the doorway. The odour was described in filings as permeating the home and lingering on clothing after deputies left the scene.

According to court documents, deputies described entering 'a house so shockingly vile that describing it doesn't do it justice'. The description appears in written filings outlining the conditions deputies said they encountered once they managed to get inside.

Inside the home, deputies found the skeletonised remains of three dogs in crates surrounded by faeces. Charging documents identify one of the dogs as a Yorkshire terrier named Mazie. The other two dogs have not been identified by name in the paperwork.

Court records state that one of the dogs had apparently been dead for more than a year by the time deputies entered the house. The crates holding the dogs' remains were found amid the clutter, according to the filings, which note that deputies had to move items to reach certain areas of the property.

Starving Kittens and Other Animals Removed

Three surviving kittens were also found at the property, named in the charging documents as Biscuit, a tuxedo kitten; Gravy, a grey-and-white kitten; and Waffle, a striped kitten. Tupman is accused of intentionally depriving the kittens of necessary sustenance, according to the charges filed in Wake County.

Wake County Animal Control removed two surviving dogs and three cats from the property, according to authorities. Officials said the animals were taken for evaluation and care following their removal from the home. No further details of their current condition have been released in the court documents referenced in the case.

Officials said Tupman had been actively trying to foster additional animals in the weeks before her arrest. According to filings, she had been in contact with others about taking in more animals despite the conditions later described by deputies.

The felony charges relate to the three dead dogs, while the three misdemeanour charges concern the kittens, according to the Wake County Sheriff's Office. Each charge stems from the conditions and treatment described in the court records and associated investigative reports.

Court Questions Release as Bond Set at $50,000

A judicial official who reviewed the allegations raised concerns about releasing Tupman on less restrictive conditions ahead of her court appearance. In a written filing, the official said the allegations and evidence 'raise serious concerns about what might happen if the defendant were released on less restrictive conditions'.

Tupman was held at the Wake County Detention Centre on a $50,000 (£37,000) secured bond. The secured bond means she would need to post that amount, or arrange for it to be posted on her behalf, before being released while the case proceeds.

She appeared before a judge on Monday afternoon and was appointed a public defender, according to court records. She is expected to return to court on 5 October, when further proceedings in the case are due to take place.

The case remains under investigation by the Wake County Sheriff's Office, in conjunction with county animal control officers. The property falls within an unincorporated part of Wake County, which is why the case is being handled by county deputies rather than Raleigh police. Officials have not said whether additional charges are being considered as the investigation continues.