03/04/2025
📌📌UPDATED INFO ON PA ANIMAL ABUSE CASE📌📌
🔸118 COMBINED CHARGES
🔸DOCKET SHEET ERIC HUNTER JR: https://bit.ly/3XFC5tt
🔸DOCKET SHEET HEATHER C RUSSIN https://bit.ly/3Yhlyfr
📫EMAIL NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY DA TO ASK FOR 🔸MAXIMUM LEGAL PENALTIES AND NO PLEA DEAL
▶️MIKE O'DONNELL [email protected]
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The following news story contains an error in the number of dogs at the home. There were either 11 or 12 other dogs near starvation. Two had to be euthanized the following day, the PA SPCA took either 4 or 5 and NASRN took 5.
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Northumberland, Pa. — Two people were charged after police allegedly found three frozen dead dogs and nine other dogs starved and close to death in a Point Township, Northumberland County home.
Heather Coral Russin, of Mount Carmel, and Eric A. Hunter Jr. of Northumberland, both 42, face a combined 118 animal cruelty and neglect charges. Both were arraigned last week by Milton District Judge Michael Diehl and committed to Northumberland County Jail in lieu of $75,000 bail.
The investigation started when police received a call from Russin on Feb. 21 allegedly saying she had a dispute with Hunter, who was previously her boyfriend, according to court documents.
Russin reportedly asked how to get her things out of the home where she had lived with Hunter and inquired about having authorities check on her dogs inside the home.
A short time later, Hunter called police and asked about Russin's possessions. When police asked about the dogs, he replied there were a "bunch of dogs" inside and they were fine, according to the affidavit written by Officer Alexander Larka of Point Township Police.
Larka asked about coming out to the home to check on the dogs, but Hunter claimed he was not home.
Police went out to the home that day and found Hunter, who told them there were three dead dogs frozen to the ground and nine other dogs inside the home, according to the affidavit.
Hunter told police he was not sure how the dogs died, but thought they may have eaten rat poison, Larka wrote.
Police say once they entered the home, they smelled a "horrendous smell of animal urine and excrement."
There was trash, dirt, boxes, old food, and garbage piled everywhere in the kitchen. Garbage was piled on top of the countertops, table, stove, and throughout the home, according to the affidavit.
Police contacted the SPCA for assistance after they discovered the three frozen dead dogs.
Authorities continued through the home and found that there were three large dogs kept in a small enclosed gate. The dogs seemed emaciated and malnourished. One of the dogs seemed tired and unresponsive, according to court documents.
Police also found three more large dogs kept in crates that seemed non-responsive, beaten, and abused. In another room, police found three additional dogs that were skinny, but seemed better off than the first six dogs they encountered. A cat also was found in the home.
Hunter allegedly told police he wanted the dogs gone and claimed he had not been inside the home in a month. He also claimed the dogs were Russin's responsibility and he had not been aware of their poor condition.
When probed about previous animal and child endangerment charges, Hunter told police he received those charges because he had animals that previously were using the bathroom in the house and it was not cleaned up, according to court documents. Larka noted that Hunter had told him earlier that day that the house was not in bad condition until recently.
Police interviewed Russin, who told them she moved into the home in 2009 and lived there until September 2024 with her daughter, who was born in 2014, according to the affidavit. Russin mentioned there were times when she and her daughter stayed in the home and there was no running water.
Humane officers arrived at the home that evening and observed some of the dogs had "pelvic, rib, spinal, and skull bones easily visible," according to the affidavit. The dog crates were heavily soiled with urine and f***l matter. Metal and plastic bowls seen in the home did not have anything in them. Authorities also noted they felt the rib, pelvic, and spinal bones on the cat. Two of the dogs were taken to a nearby veterinary hospital due to their severe condition.
When humane officers talked with Russin, she claimed ownership of two of the dogs and stated the rest were purchased by her for Hunter to use for breeding. Russin explained that "when Covid happened," Hunter wanted to breed dogs.
Russin allegedly provided care for the dogs until her father became ill in August. She denied participating in anything related to the dog breeding, according to court documents.
Russin told humane officers she had used a veterinarian for the dogs who retired in 2023 and then their practice closed in 2024. She claimed to have asked Hunter to begin caring for her dogs in December. When she stopped by the home on Feb. 19, she noticed the condition of the home and decided to call police, she said.
When asked about her daughter, Russin told humane officers she now lives with her father in Natalie, according to court documents.
The humane officers took the dogs and cat to the Pennsylvania SPCA in Philadelphia.
Both Russin and Hunter were charged with a total combined count of 44 felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, as well as misdemeanors of cruelty to animals, neglect of animals, a misdemeanor of endangering the welfare of a child, and related summaries. Both will have a preliminary hearing in front of Diehl on April 9.
http://bit.ly/3EfgWj5
