Dozens of dead cats found in Knox County woman's home

Dozens of dead cats found in Knox County woman's home

June 30, 2006

By SONU WASU
6 News Reporter

KNOX COUNTY (WATE) --  A Knox County woman has been charged with 26 counts of cruelty to animals after animal control authorities found dozens of dead cats in two of her homes.

Authorities say some of the cats they found had been dead for so long, they were practically mummified. Others were found decomposing. Animal Control officers also found 10 skeletal remains at one of Sylvia Sexton's homes.

Authorities were notified by neighbors who say one of the cats bit their pet dog and scratched their child's hand. Animal Control officers got a search warrant after getting the complaint.

What they found inside the locked doors was very disturbing. David Head, Executive Director of Knox County Animal Control describes the experience. "It's like walking into the city dump, and about 10 times the smell. Fleas, ticks mice."

6 News has obtained pictures of what the inside of the house looked like.

Knox County Animal Control showed the pictures after getting permission from the District Attorney General's office. They show all the furniture rotting and decayed. Also, the carpet is decomposing and covered with several inches of feces.

Authorities say there was no electricity or running water in that home. They do not believe anybody lived there.

A neighbor tells 6 News, the owners, Sexton and her husband, would stop by once a day to put food and water out for the cats, but authorities say the animals appear severely neglected. "If you find mummified bodies or partial bodies, they did not have food and water substantial enough to stand life, " Head says.

He adds the home had no ventilation. The windows were sealed with plastic and covered with heavy drapes inside, possibly to try containing the stench. But you could still smell cat feces and urine from several houses away.

Animal control officers also searched another home at 4200 Tazewell Pike. Dead cats were also found in that home and it has been condemned by the county.

The District Attorney General's office is now interviewing Sexton's family members. Authorities say more charges may be filed later in this case.

Sexton is out on bond. She's expected to be arraigned on July 7.