Overview
- Police arrested 57-year-old Donnell Smith Monday after deputies and animal services responded to a tip about a foul odor and found three decomposing dogs inside the trailer he shared with Jodi Cowan.
- Investigators said the animals were locked inside with no food, water or air conditioning and that Smith had not checked on them since about June 2.
- Smith faces multiple counts including aggravated felony animal cruelty, confinement without sufficient food or air, animal abandonment, and unlawful disposal of dead animals.
- Those events follow the May 19 attack that killed Cowan, for which neighbor Linda Cutler is charged with manslaughter and her two pit bulls were seized and slated for euthanasia.
- Authorities removed the remains for necropsies to determine causes of death, the investigation is active, and investigators say a fourth dog survived and is the same pet Cowan tried to protect during the earlier attack.