UT pathologists to perform necropsies on cats found in cruelty case

UT pathologists to perform necropsies on cats found in cruelty case

July 5, 2006

By SONU WASU
6 News Reporter

KNOX COUNTY (WATE) -- A pathologist at the UT School of Veterinary Medicine is helping perform necropsies on some of the mummified animals found at the home of woman charged in a cruelty case.   

Sylvia Sexton faces a long list of cruelty to animal charges and is out on bond, awaiting her arraignment.

Both of her homes, one on Champions Point in the Fox Den Subdivision in West Knoxville, and the other on Tazewell Pike in North Knoxville, have now been condemned.

Animal control authorities tell 6 news, the temperature inside the house was 143 degrees when they first opened the door. Inside, they say, it looked and smelled worse than the city dump.

The cats found dead inside were decomposing, some of them already mummified. The ones found alive were very skinny. They were also covered with fleas and ear mites.

Authorities say they also found a dead cat inside the dishwasher and a mummified cat in the chandelier.

The Executive Director of Knox County Animal Control David Head says what food and water was found at the home, could not be consumed. "Most of the food had other animals in it. Say maggots, fleas, the water had green slime and mold in the water bowls."

Pathologist Robert Donnell at the UT School of Veterinary Medicine is helping perform necropsies on some of the animals. That's the same thing as an autopsy.

Pathologists will study the animal tissues to determine the cause of death. It will help determine if the cats died of starvation, dehydration or excessive heat.

Necropsy results could take up to four weeks to complete. Pathologists will turn over their findings to the District Attorney General's office.

Meanwhile, the animal control officers who worked the case are mentally and emotionally exhausted.

It took them seven days to search the two homes and compile evidence for the case. Authorities say they have to treat the homes just as they would a crime scene. They have to photograph and mark down everything, watch where they walk and comb through the scene one section at a time.

Head says the filth and squalor in the home made their jobs difficult. "There was no way they could walk without stepping in something or on something that was either covered in feces or dead animals."

Knox County animal control officers could not stay in the home for longer than six hours due to the hazardous working conditions and stench. All they wear during the operations are T-shirts, work pants and waterproof high top boots. They duct tape their pants around the ankles to protect their legs.

Head says they plan to buy environmental suits.

Sexton is due to be arraigned on Friday morning. Prosecutors say they are still investigating the case. More charges may be filed at a later date.

Animal control officers are still looking for seven stray cats around the two homes. They warn you not to try and feed or capture these animals because they are wild cats.