D.A.Hopeful About Felony Cruelty Charges in Baldwin County Case

"It is unbelievably, it's heart wrenching. The images are so shocking."

 After seeing those images and the conditions dogs and cats were forced to live in for weeks, it seems the charges against Sharon and Roberta Dueitt should fit the crime but under Alabama law it's not that simple. "It requires the proof of what they call torture now that is defined and I believe at this point it would fit." District Attorney Hallie Dixon is looking into upgrading misdemeanor animal abuse charges to state charges of felony animal cruelty. "My hope is that it will yield felony charges and we'll be able to proceed."

Roberta and Sharon Dueitt returned home Thursday night to find police and volunteers trying to save hundreds of animals abandoned and left to starve to death at Purple Hearted Puppies rescue in Summerdale. More than three dozen didn't make it. "We, of course, see horrific things done to children, done to adults, done to our elderly and this was right up there with what you would think is shocking."

 Under state cruelty charges the Dueitt's could face years in jail and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines. "To watch animals starve to death and decompose in a cage, which was particularly horrific to me they were caged they were unable to fend for themselves," says Dixon.

Dixon plans to meet with investigators from Robertsdale and Summerdale, area veterinarians and the humane society later this week to get a full picture of the investigation. We should know then if the charges will be upgraded.