A Florida woman has been arrested after authorities say she left her teenage child and seven dogs living in a home filled with animal feces for two weeks while she vacationed in Las Vegas.
Jessica Copeland, 37, was taken into custody on Tuesday, Aug. 5, and booked into the Putnam County Jail on one count of child neglect, three counts of felony animal neglect, and four counts of misdemeanor animal neglect, according to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and online jail records.
The sheriff’s office said deputies were first called to Copeland’s home in Palatka, Fla. — about 60 miles south of Jacksonville — on Monday, Aug. 4, after a family member requested a welfare check on the teenager.
When deputies arrived, an adult outside the home claimed he was cleaning before Copeland returned from a trip, according to a statement posted on the sheriff’s office Facebook page. The teenager came outside and insisted there were no problems, leading deputies to leave without entering.
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Later that day, deputies returned after another family member contacted them with video evidence allegedly showing dogs being abused inside the home. The video reportedly showed “three severely emaciated dogs,” and the relative claimed the house had no running water or food.
Once deputies entered the residence, they said they were met with “vile living conditions,” including layers of animal feces covering the floors, piles of garbage, and severely malnourished dogs without food or water.
The teenager allegedly told investigators Copeland had left on July 21 for a Las Vegas vacation, and that various people had stopped by to bring him food during her absence.
According to the sheriff’s office, seven dogs were found in the home. Four were locked in a bedroom with about four inches of feces on the floor, a fifth was in a cage and “severely emaciated,” and the others were in the living room surrounded by feces. None reportedly had adequate food or water. The teen also claimed the home had been kept in this condition “for years” because Copeland refused to clean.
Body-camera footage released by the sheriff’s office shows deputies confronting Copeland about the “deplorable” conditions upon her return. She told them she had “just got back from vacation” and complied when informed she was under arrest.
Sheriff H.D. “Gator” DeLoach condemned the situation, calling it “both heartbreaking and infuriating,” and describing it as “deliberate cruelty” toward both her child and the animals.
The dogs have been placed in the care of Putnam County Animal Services, which plans to make them available for adoption after rehabilitation.
Online jail records show Copeland’s bond is set at $36,000. It remains unclear whether she has entered a plea or secured legal representation.
