2 arrested after investigators find 5 dead dogs at property, troopers say

MARLBOROUGH, Conn. (WFSB/Gray News) - Two people were charged with animal cruelty after investigators documented dead dogs, substantial animal waste, and garbage around a property in Connecticut, state police said.

Troopers said they arrested Troy McDermott and Crystal Bianco on Sept. 17.

An investigation followed an Aug. 31 health-and-safety inspection in Marlborough. An arrest warrant affidavit said the property had a history of drug use and sales, and dogs known to bite.

State police said they received a tip from another man they arrested on an unrelated warrant at the same property. He informed them of the dead dogs and claimed he had been hired to feed them.

That led to a welfare check by troopers and a state Department of Agriculture animal control officer. According to an arrest warrant, they documented sanitation, food and water, electrical, and dead animal concerns.

A search and seizure warrant was approved on Sept. 1.

The warrant was completed the next day.

State police said they seized living dogs, including six associated with McDermott and one that belonged to Bianco.

A judge found probable cause and approved the arrest warrants on Sept. 15, court records show.

McDermott was arrested on Sept. 17 at Hartford Superior Court. He was charged with 11 counts of cruelty to animals and one count of tampering with physical evidence. The affidavit ties the counts to the six living dogs and five dead dogs.

His bond was set at $60,000.

Bianco turned herself in on the same day. She was charged with one count of cruelty to animals.

Her bond was $1,000.

McDermott and Bianco were given a court date of Oct. 2 in Manchester.