Staff Report

Roy Lee Mullins

PACKERTON — A Claypool man was recently arrested after law enforcement found 11 animals on his property which were malnourished and improperly cared for.

Roy Lee Mullins, 56, 1895 E. 800S, Claypool, is charged with cruelty to an animal, a class A misdemeanor.

On July 26, a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office deputy spoke with a bank representative regarding possible animal neglect. The representative said the bank’s inspection company went to a property near Packerton in preparation for foreclosure on the property.

According to court documents, the inspection included photos of the property which showed cats in a cage inside a garage. The cats appeared to be in poor health.

The property, owned by Mullins, was condemned by the Kosciusko County Health Department since there is no running water. KCSO received 18 anonymous calls about the property since Sept. 20, 2023, alleging numerous dogs and cats were kept in cages inside the garage in filthy conditions.

KCSO deputies went to the property on Sept. 20, 2023, and Dec. 29, 2023. On both of those dates, deputies did not hear any noises coming from inside the garage located on the property.

In a conversation on Dec. 31, 2023, Mullins told a deputy he owned one dog that he cared for. He denied owning any additional animals and did not allow the deputy inside his home.

A KCHD representative and KCSO deputy spoke with Mullins again on April 16. Mullins again did not allow anyone into his home and still claimed he owned only one dog. At that time, the deputy and health department representative noticed a very strong stench of animal feces coming from inside Mullins’ home.

After the bank inspection on July 26, KCSO requested a search warrant for the property in order to look for neglected animals. The warrant was executed on July 29.

Upon searching the garage, officers found six dogs and five cats. Animal urine and feces were on the floor and nearly every surface in the garage, with the smell being described as “foul and powerful.” Old furniture inside the garage was also covered in a layer of feces.

The dogs were in various stages of poor health, with one having no fur left on it due to flea infestation. Several of the dogs also appeared to be very malnourished and were not aggressive.

All of the cats also appeared to be malnourished, with poor coats of fur. Water was available for the animals, but no food was apparent. The cats and dogs were taken to the Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko County.

A KCSO deputy was later informed by AWL staff that two of the dogs had passed away.

Mullins was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on Oct. 7. He has an initial hearing at 1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 14, in Kosciusko Superior Court Two.