Denise Withee , 45, of Mapleton, IA, has been arrested and charged with animal abandonment after nearly two dozen dead dogs were found in a cornfield northeast of Grand Island.

The Hall County Sheriff's Office said a farmer checking his crops this week found three dogs alive and 20 dead. Two died a short time later. An oral syringe was found, and tests were being done to determine the type of liquid the syringe contained.

The Sheriff's Office says Withee is reportedly in the business of buying and selling dogs. A microchip implanted in one of the dead dogs led investigators to Withee.

Update 8/4/08:  A second person has been arrested on charges stemming from the deaths of 23 dogs in rural Hall County according to the Hall County Sheriff's Department.

Roland Bowling, 50, of 2534 W. North Front St. in Grand Island was charged in Hall County Court with being an accessory to a felony, which is a Class IV felony, and providing false information to law enforcement officials.

If convicted, the charge of accessory to a felony carries up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. If convicted, the charge of providing false information to law enforcement officials carries a 1 year prison term and a $1,000 fine.

In court, Bowling said he has lived in Grand Island for five years and prior to that he lived in Hastings for 12 years.

Bowling said he could not afford an attorney and was given a court-appointed attorney.  His bond was set at $15,000 and his court hearing was set for Oct. 6 at 1:30 p.m.

At the time of Withee's arrest, an additional 13 dogs were seized. Those dogs are being cared for by the Central Nebraska Humane Society.

The sheriff's department said it cited Withee for three counts of animal abandonment in that serious injuries to the animals resulted after the act. The potential charges are Class IV felonies.

Withee is being investigated for a similar incident by the Monona County Sheriff's Department, where Mapleton is located.

Steve Allen, assistant Monona County attorney and full-time prosecutor, said he was aware of Withee's arrest in Hall County, "but I haven't received any official reports and as far as I know, nothing has been filed here."

Allen said that the Monona County Sheriff's Department is investigating Withee in a similar case of animal abandonment involving more than two dozen dogs that were found abandoned along a county road near Withee's hometown of Mapleton.

"It was my understanding that the dogs were not dead, but they were running lose and had been released from somewhere," Allen said. "I'm not sure where they were kept."

Allen said he wasn't sure whether the Monona County Sheriff's Department was investigating the incident and going to file charges or investigating at the request of Hall County authorities.

The Hall County case began when a dog was spotted near the corner of a cornfield north of Prairie Road by two people who were driving by the field.

When those people stopped to investigate, they saw more dogs, which resulted in the Central Nebraska Humane Society and Hall County Sheriff's Department responding to the scene.

Eventually, 23 dogs were discovered in the cornfield. Three dogs were alive, but two of them died while people were still working at the scene. A third dog, which was pregnant, died en route to the Grand Island Veterinary Hospital.

The veterinarian at the clinic took tissue samples to try to determine the dog's cause of death.

A syringe without a needle was found in the cornfield. It was confiscated to see if it has any connection to the dogs' deaths.

The animals, none of which were puppies, were a variety of breeds: pugs, Yorkies, terriers, terrier mixes, dachshunds and labradoodles.

None of the dogs had identification tags, but authorities said in their initial follow-up report that one of the dogs had an implanted microchip.

Update 8/4/08 (Iowa case):  Hours after her arrest, authorities in Iowa said Denise Withee has a track record of animal cruelty there too.

Sergeant Roger Krohn, with the Monona County, Iowa Sheriff's Department, said "We had two search warrants, one for a farm and one for a residence in the city of Mapleton. And while I was at the farm, I got a call from the Hall County Sheriff's office asking about the target of our investigation."

On the same day Grand Island's investigation began, police in Iowa were conducting an investigation of their own.

Krohn said, "We found 16 adult dogs at a farm near Mapleton and we did take those dogs into custody under direction from the veterinarian."

Just a week earlier, about 20 dogs were found dumped along a rural Monona County highway. Like in Hall County, microchips led Iowa authorities straight to Withee. In all, at least 65 dogs found dead or abandoned in Iowa and Nebraska were all tied to Withee.

"We had many that had open sores. They had extreme cases of mange and blindness. Just extreme diseases," said Krohn.

Now authorizes in Nebraska and Iowa are working together to build their case against Withee and find any more dogs that might still be out there.

Krohn said, "To me this is the kind of thing that ranks up there with child abuse and these animals are completely dependent on someone for their total care." The Hall County Sheriff's Department said there may be other arrests in the case.

Withee is charged with three counts of animal abandonment so far.

Update 8/6/08 (Iowa case):  Withee will face charges as soon for animal abuse and abandonment.

She's looking at more than 20 counts of animal abuse and abandonment, which in Iowa are not felonies, but rather misdemeanors.

On July 27th, Monona County, IA, investigators rounded up nearly 40 dogs that were wandering around the area. The dogs were later linked to Withee through microchip technology. Authorities say some of the dogs had to be put down because of bad health. Five of the abandoned dogs are now being cared for at the Animal Control in South Sioux City, NE. An additional five are at the Sioux land Humane Society and 12 are at Sioux City's Animal Control.

The director at Sioux City's Animal Control, Cindy Rabat, says they received small and large dogs including Cockapoos and Wheaton Terriers. They've been cleaned up and vaccinated but Rarrat says when she got them they were infested with fleas and lice, dirty with matted fur and had soars all over their bodies.

"They're lovely dogs. None of them have given us any problems. Their temperaments are wonderful. They're so thankful to have something, so they've been absolutely wonderful for us," says Cindy Rarrat.

Update 8/13/08 (Nebraska case):  Five felony charges have been filed in Hall County Court against  Denise Kay Withee.  The charges stem from the deaths of a pug, a wire-haired dachshund, a poodle mix, a poodle and a Yorkshire terrier, according to court documents.

The animals listed in the charges were among 23 found dead or dying in the cornfield and 13 more that were taken from Withee when she was arrested at the USA Inns of America, which is at Highway 281 and Interstate 80. The incidents occurred on July 31 and Aug. 2.

Deputy Hall County Attorney Matt Molsen said the dogs died of dehydration, diseases and/or malnutrition and additional charges could be filed in the case.

Hall County Attorney Mark Young said autopsies were done on four of the dogs and the investigation into the case is continuing. He needs to review the reports to decide if additional charges can be filed.  "I had enough to file charges," he said. "I didn't want to get ahead of myself and write checks I couldn't cash."

Young said he currently has reports on the five dogs involved in the charges. This case has resulted in a sizable amount of paperwork, which has been generated by law enforcement, the Central Nebraska Humane Society and veterinarians who've examined the animals and the animals' bodies, he said.

In court, Molsen asked for a bond of 10 percent of $150,000 because Withee was facing charges of animal abuse and abandonment in Iowa when she came to Grand Island. He added that her boyfriend tried to hide her in the hotel once an investigation started in Hall County. She was arrested on Aug. 2.

Hall County Judge David Bush set the bond at 10 percent of $50,000 and ordered Withee to return to court on Oct. 30 for her preliminary hearing.

If convicted, she faces up to five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine for each of the five counts.

Roland G. Bowling, also known as Ronald Lancaster, 50, of 2534 W. North Front St., has been charged with being an accessory to a felony and providing false information to law enforcement officials in the case. He's being held in the Hall County Jail and his hearing is scheduled for Oct. 6.

Withee's family has hired attorney Art Langvardt, who practices primarily in Hastings, to represent Withee. He appeared in court and requested a recognizance or "modest bond" for his client. He said she would live with her sister and brother-in-law, who live in Hastings, if she was released. Her sister was in the courtroom and spoke to Langvardt briefly before the hearing. Withee, who was at the jail, appeared using the court's new audiovisual system.

Langvardt said Withee was "committed briefly" on emergency protective custody and was released from Mary Lanning Regional Medical Center in Hastings. He said she is currently on prescription medication.  She was brought to the Hall County Jail upon her release from the hospital.

Humane Society Executive Director Laurie Dethloff and Jane Kuehn, the shelter manager, also attended the hearing.

Kuehn said the four 5-week-old Yorkies that were among the 13 dogs taken from the hotel, have died. The animals were infected with Parvo, she said.

Parvo is a viral disease that causes suppression of white blood cells and can effect an animal's heart muscle. There is no cure for the disease and vaccinations are the only preventative measure available.

Of the nine surviving dogs, a standard poodle, two Maltese's, a dachshund and a cocker spaniel have been adopted.  The four other dogs are available for adoption from the Humane Society, Kuehn said.

Dethloff said the case is a difficult one because there aren't a lot of laws in Nebraska to support animals.  "We are here today to make sure they have a voice and to let people know this won't be tolerated here," she said.

Update 8/18/08 (Nebraska case):  A woman accused of dumping dogs agreed to pay Monona County for dealing with her canines.

Denise Withee did not appear in court because she's still in the Hall County, Nebraska jail.

However, she sent a letter, agreeing to pay $7,000 to the Monona County Sheriff's Department for boarding and disposing of the dogs. Deputies found 31 dogs at her home. Four were put down; the rest have been sent to various animal shelters and foster homes.

No word, yet, on any possible criminal charges. The County Attorney says she will most likely face abandonment charges--that's a misdemeanor in Iowa.

Update 10/7/08 (Nebraska case):  About a dozen animal lovers stood in the drizzle outside the Hall County Courthouse to demonstrate against animal abuse.

  (Photo courtesy of Nebraska TV)  The group began gathering at about 1 p.m., a half hour prior to a hearing for Roland Bowling, who is charged with helping Denise Withee after she dumped 23 dead and dying dogs in a cornfield last summer.

Bowling, also known as Ronald Lancaster, 50, of 2534 W. North Front St., is charged with felony accessory to a felony and misdemeanor false reporting for incidents that occurred between July 31 and Aug. 2.

Leslie Moraczewski of Ashton was among the demonstrators.  "It was absolutely awful and they need to be punished," she said as she held a sign with a photo of a puppy that died.

The signs the people held had messages about animal abuse and Bowling's case.  "They couldn't get free so neither should he," one read.  "Animal abusers become child abusers," another stated.

Group members said they had several drivers honk their car horns in support and also got a number of waves, thumbs-up signs and photos taken with cell phones.

"We've even had some dogs bark at us," said Laurie Dethloff, Central Nebraska Humane Society executive director, who was also at the courthouse.

She added that the demonstrators, none of whom were Humane Society employees, gathered because they wanted to raise awareness of the situation and because they were upset about the dogs' deaths.

One of the demonstrators, Jack Smolek of Grand Island, brought his dog, Amy, with him.  "That's what it's all about," he said, smiling down at his pet.

Karen Reinhardt of Grand Island said her father, Fred Schritt, organized the group.  "This is just the beginning," Reinhardt said. "We plan to come back for her with more people. We're here to speak for the animals who can't speak for themselves."

Withee's preliminary hearing is set for Oct. 30. She's charged with five felony counts of animal neglect.

In the courthouse, Hall County Judge David Bush started hearing by saying it was his understanding that Bowling planned to waive his preliminary hearing. When he asked Bowling if that was his intent, Bowling turned to his attorney, Deputy Hall County Public Defender Vicky Kenney, and began whispering.

Bowling's lawyer wanted to waive the probable cause hearing.  "You said you wanted to," she said to her client.  After a moment of hushed discussion, Bowling turned back to the judge.  "Your honor, I've changed my mind. I'm not going to waive my preliminary hearing," he said.

The attorneys and the judge took a break and, when they returned, the state called Hall County Sheriff's Capt. Jim Castleberry.

Castleberry said deputies were called to the cornfield near Grand Island the dead and dying dogs were found. Twenty of the dogs were dead and three were in very poor medical condition, he said.

Through an investigation, deputies determined the dogs were owned by Withee, 45, of Mapleton, Iowa, and she was likely in Grand Island visiting Bowling. Authorities in Iowa were watching her home because they wanted to arrest her for a similar dog dumping incident there, Castleberry said.

He contacted Bowling, who said Withee had stayed with him on July 31 but she had gone to Kansas on Aug. 1. He also said she was on her way back to Grand Island and would turn herself in to authorities.

During his initial interview with Castleberry, Bowling gave his name as Ronald Lancaster and gave a false address. Castleberry later determined Bowling's real name and address.

Capt. Jim Castleberry of the Hall County Sheriff's Office testified about the investigation and that Bowling lied about his name and Withee's whereabouts.   Castleberry made contact with Bowling at a car dealership where he worked. Castleberry testified that Bowling said Withee had stayed in Kansas, and was on her way to her Iowa home. However, Castleberry also testified how he found Withee staying in a Grand Island hotel, paid for by Bowling.

Bowling told authorities that Withee panicked and fled. He admitted to investigators that he liked and didn't want Withee to get in trouble.

The judge ordered him to stand trial on a felony charge.

After an anonymous 911 call, deputies found Withee at a local motel with 14 other dogs. She was checking out of the room and had been stacking plastic crates containing dogs in the back of a gray Jeep Cherokee with Montana plates. Bowling had told deputies the vehicle was white and had Iowa plates, Castleberry said.

The room had been paid for from Aug. 1 to Aug. 2 by Bowling, who used a credit card. The signature on the receipt matched the signature on his driver's license, Castleberry said.

He testified that Bowling said he lied to deputies because he didn't want to see Withee get in trouble. He also told authorities Withee panicked when she discovered some of the dogs had died, and headed to a veterinarian. She then decided to dump the animals when she realized she didn't have any money, Castleberry said.

When Withee was interviewed, she never said Bowling had contact with the dogs or helped her dispose of them. She also didn't say whether she had planned to turn herself in to authorities, Castleberry said.

After the hearing, Bush bound Bowling over to district court for arraignment on Oct. 21.

Outside the courtroom, Dethloff said she was "very proud of the judicial system and law enforcement." She said neither Bowling nor Withee needed to be in this situation because the Humane Society was only a phone call away.  "We would have been there to help," she said.

She added that the animals Withee had with her in the hotel room all survived and found adoptive homes through the Humane Society.

Update 10/22/08 (Nebraska case):  A Grand Island man pleaded not guilty in Hall County District Court to helping a woman charged with leaving nearly two dozen dead and dying dogs in a cornfield near Grand Island.

  (Photo courtesy of Nebraska TV)  Bowling, of 2534 W. North Front St., is charged with being an accessory to a felony and misdemeanor false reporting.

His pretrial is scheduled for Dec. 3 and his trial will follow in January. His bond was continued and he remains in the Hall County Jail.

Bowling is charged with assisting Denise K. Withee, 45, of Mapleton, Iowa, when she visited Grand Island from July 31 to Aug. 2.

During Bowling's preliminary hearing, Hall County Sheriff's Capt. Jim Castleberry testified that Bowling told deputies Withee stayed with him July 31, she'd gone to Kansas on Aug. 1 and was returning to Grand Island on Aug. 2 to turn herself in to authorities.

Twenty-three dogs were found dead or dying in the cornfield on July 31, and 13 more were taken from Withee when she was arrested at a local motel Aug. 2. The room had been paid for from Aug. 1 to Aug. 2 by Bowling, who used a credit card and whose signature matches the one on the receipt, Castleberry said.

When Withee was interviewed, she never said Bowling had contact with the dogs or helped her dispose of them, Castleberry said.

Withee's preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 30. She is charged with five counts of felony cruel neglect of animals.

Update 4/17/09 (Nebraska case):  A Grand Island man accused of helping to dump nearly 2 dozen dead dogs in a field, did not show up for his sentencing.

  (Photo courtesy of KHAS TV)  A bench warrant is now out for 51–year–old Roland Bowling.

He pled no contest to misdemeanor false reporting. He had been charged as an accessory to a felony, but that charge was dropped.

Update 4/21/09 (Nebraska case):  A Grand Island man authorities said helped a woman accused of dumping nearly 2 dozen dead dogs in a ditch is back in jail.

Bowling showed up late for sentencing in Hall County District Court. This was after he failed to show up the previous week.

The judge revoked his bond and ordered him to jail until April 28th.  That is when Bowling will be sentenced on 2 counts of misdemeanor false reporting.   He faces up to a year for each count.

Update 7/18/09 (Nebraska case):  A jury returned guilty verdicts on all three counts of felony animal abandonment or neglect against Withee. Sentencing was set for Sept. 24.

Withee said in court that she was taking the dogs from her home to a woman in North Platte because Withee couldn't care for them any longer.

Withee said the woman didn't show, so she headed home. Withee said she took sick along the way. She pulled over, but then passed out.

She said that when she awoke, most of the dogs were dead from the heat.

Withee said she dumped them off because she panicked.

  (Photo courtesy of KHAS TV) Withee, a dog groomer, in court with her lawyer.

Update 7/24/09 (Nebraska case):  Bowling who lied to police in a dead dog investigation was sentenced to jail.

He was sentenced on 2 counts of misdemeanor false reporting. Each count got him 300 days in jail.

But he will serve both sentences at the same time.

The judge also gave Bowling credit for 217 days already served.

Update 10/1/09 (Nebraska case):  Withee will not serve time in jail, as a judge sentences her to probation with strings attached.

  (Photo courtesy of 1011 Now News) Withee walked out of court a free woman, with no handcuffs and no jail sentence. That disappointed Humane Society officials who had been involved in the case since they first got a call about 23 dead and dying dogs left in a field.

Central Nebraska Humane Society Executive Director Laurie Dethloff said, "We're disappointed. I don't know what we really expected but with having dealt with the aftermath of it we would've liked to see jail time."

Withee's sentence comes with a lengthy list of conditions. The judge told Withee the key to avoid jail is to not have dogs. Judge William Wright ordered her not to own, posses, or reside with an animal or pet of any kind for the next five years. To make sure she complies, the judge said jail is a possibility, one he will "hold over your head for four years."

The word from Dethloff? "That's a relief."

Prosecutor Aaron Kunz told the judge that Withee never took responsibility, making herself out to be the victim. Kunz, a deputy Hall County Attorney said the dogs were the victims.

Withee did make an apology, telling the court "I'm sorry for what I did." She said she was not in the right state of mind.

Dethloff said, "Even with 'I'm sorry' in there I do not believe she recognizes what the ramifications were of this. She has not taken responsibility.'

Animal rights supporters paced outside the courtroom, their shirts turned inside out to hide pro-animal slogans.

Sentencing was delayed multiple times, when Withee asked for her lawyer to be dismissed. The judge said no, in a hearing as strange as it was long.

The judge called the case shocking to the community. Animal advocates wanted Withee to leave with jailers. Corrections officers left early, taking their handcuffs and shackles with them.

While Humane Society leaders like Dethloff wanted jail time, they did express thanks to the Hall County Attorney for taking the case.

She said, "If we were in a different county I'm not sure we would've gotten this far. This gives us opportunity to know where we stand for animals and how something this horrific can get you probation and what we need to do now."

The judge ordered Withee to get intensive counseling. Judge Wright said she had a "very, very, high degree of negligent conduct."

The judge said Withee doesn't hate dogs, but rather has an extreme love for dogs to the point she can't care for them. She will also have to do 100 hours of community service.

Withee was convicted on three felony counts of abandonment or neglect. She was sentenced to four years probation on each, to run at the same time.

The county attorney asked for $1,250 in restitution for the Humane Society, but the judge denied it for lack of evidence.

The judge said a number of animal activist groups sent letters to the court, but said they were not helpful because they had "little or no understanding of the history of the case" mistakenly thinking Withee was involved in a puppymill, when there was no evidence of that.

The judge said Withee has an unreasonable and unusual desire to have dogs, more than she's able to handle. Deputy County Attorney Aaron Kunz called in hoarding.

Judge Wright said he would waive a 180 day jail sentence if Withee completes the terms of probation.

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