Evesham Township, New Jersey – A harrowing discovery has led to the arrest of a man and woman in New Jersey on charges of child neglect and animal cruelty. Law enforcement officials found a boy living in appalling conditions and uncovered evidence that more than 100 dogs had died at their residence.
Rebecca Halbach, 35, and Brandon Leconey, 32, both residents of Evesham Township, were taken into custody and are facing charges of endangering the welfare of a child and animal cruelty.
Reports indicate that a nonprofit organization from North Carolina entrusted Halbach and Leconey with numerous foster dogs along with monetary aid to assist in their care. However, suspicions arose when a foster dog‘s death caught the attention of a member of the nonprofit group.
Evesham Police Chief Walt Miller explained, “He knew that one of the dogs that was given in their care had died and that they were trying to pass off another dog as the dog that he was looking for. He knew that wasn’t the dog. So that prompted us to investigate.”
Subsequently, the concerned group member visited the couple’s residence on Main Street. Their concerns were magnified upon observing further suspicious behavior, leading to their report to the police. Authorities promptly responded to the situation, arriving at the residence on Monday at 2:45 p.m.
Inside the residence, law enforcement discovered over 30 deceased dogs in varying states of decomposition, alongside 14 living dogs, as well as several cats and rabbits. Chief Miller described the distressing scene, “There’s dogs in cages. Live dogs in cages. Dead dogs in cages. Dead animals throughout the house.”
Initial indications suggest that the deceased dogs suffered from malnourishment.
Amidst these dire circumstances, a 9-year-old boy was also found within the home. Due to the perilous environment, the child was removed from the premises and placed under the care of the New Jersey Division of Child Protection & Permanency (DCP&P). Despite the boy’s apparent physical health, the dire conditions he was exposed to have raised serious concerns.
Chief Miller emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “It’s definitely concerning having a 9-year-old child living in this home, sleeping in this home, eating in this home.”
Of the living dogs, nine were transported to the Mt. Laurel Animal Hospital. Tragically, one of these dogs had to be euthanized due to its deteriorated condition. The surviving dogs will be relocated to an animal shelter upon their recovery.
Both the rabbits and cats will also be transferred to animal shelters.
Further investigation led to the discovery of additional deceased dogs in a covered hole on the property. Chief Miller disclosed, “After executing a search warrant on the property, police found the bodies of several more dogs in an open hole in the ground that was covered with a tarp.”
Authorities believe that as many as 100 dogs may have succumbed to death at the residence over a period of time.
While Leconey is incarcerated in the Burlington County Jail, Halbach is undergoing medical evaluation at the hospital for an unrelated health issue. Following her clearance for confinement, she will be lodged in jail. Both individuals will remain in custody until a detention hearing takes place at the Burlington County Superior Court.
Authorities emphasize that the investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges are anticipated. Efforts are also underway to contact other individuals or animal shelters that may have provided foster dogs to the suspects. The shocking nature of the case underscores the importance of ensuring the well-being of both animals and children.
