Two dogs transferred from Stockton Animal Services to Miranda’s Rescue earlier this year were identified among the 117 dogs exhumed from two mass grave sites in Humboldt County, according to the Stockton Police Department.
Investigators confirmed through microchip identification that the dogs were Ornament, a 5-year-old gray-and-white pit bull mix, and Roselle, a 1-year-old brindle pit bull mix. Both dogs were transferred from Stockton Animal Services to the rescue in Fortuna, about 300 miles northwest of Stockton, on March 31.
The confirmation comes about a week after Stockton police announced four other dogs previously transferred to the Fortuna rescue had been safely recovered and returned to the Stockton Animal Shelter.
“Receiving this confirmation is incredibly difficult for our Animal Services team,” Stockton police said in a statement on July 15. “Every animal that comes through our shelter matters, and when an animal is transferred to a rescue organization, we do so believing they are continuing their journey toward a safe and positive future.”
Stockton police added, “The circumstances surrounding the deaths of Ornament and Roselle are deeply painful, and we mourn the loss of these two dogs.”
The Stockton Police Department said it and Stockton Animal Services will continue assisting the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office by providing information and other support as investigators pursue their animal cruelty investigation into Miranda’s Rescue.
Investigation uncovers mass graves
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office shared details of its investigation, which began on April 22 after it “received credible information regarding allegations of felony animal abuse, animal cruelty, fraud and conspiracy associated with Miranda’s Rescue,” in a June 23 news release.
Because of the seriousness and complexity of the allegations, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Division was assigned to lead the investigation. Investigators obtained a search warrant for Miranda’s Rescue, including the residence and business property.
Investigators served the search warrant on May 1 and seized evidence related to the investigation. Since then, investigators have interviewed dozens of animal shelters in California and other states, as well as witnesses and victims, and have received hundreds of tips by phone and email, according to the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office.
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office said it had determined through its investigation that hundreds of dogs were transferred or turned over to Miranda’s Rescue by private citizens and animal shelters. A significant number of those animals had not been accounted for as of June 23.
Based on the large number of animals that remained unaccounted for, investigators served a second search warrant at Miranda’s Rescue on June 23. The warrant authorized excavation of the property in an effort to locate additional animals believed to be buried there.
As a result of that search, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office said in a June 26 update it recovered 117 intact canine remains from two excavation sites at Miranda’s Rescue. Investigators also recovered 21 canine skulls, hundreds of bones and several loose microchips. Authorities said many of the dogs appeared to have died from gunshot wounds, with X-rays showing bullet fragments in 70 of the animals examined.
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office said sheriff’s investigators have worked with the FBI, the California Department of Justice, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the California Attorney General’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California. Authorities said the investigation into alleged animal cruelty, fraud and theft remains active.
Anyone with information related to the investigation is encouraged to contact the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251.
Record reporter Hannah Workman covers news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at hworkman@recordnet.com or on Twitter @byhannahworkman. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.
This article originally appeared on The Record: 2 Stockton dogs among 117 found dead in mass graves at Miranda’s Rescue
Reporting by Hannah Workman, The Stockton Record / The Record
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By Hannah Workman, The Stockton Record | USA TODAY Network
