Front Page  news  state

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Mesilla Town Worker Arrested for Animal Cruelty


Associated Press
      LAS CRUCES — A Dona Ana County woman has been charged with animal cruelty and other offenses after deputies found dozens of cats inside the home she shared with her teenage son and mother.
    Deputies arrived at the Mesilla Park home Tuesday morning to do a welfare check on the elderly woman. That's when they found the cats, along with four horses, four dogs, three rabbits and piles of dead cats outside.
    Investigators on Wednesday reported a total of 139 animals were removed from the residence, along with 24 carcasses. The live animals consisted of 128 cats, in addition to the horses, dogs and rabbits.
    Authorities said deputies on Tuesday told Gina Gentile, 40, and her mother, 72-year-old Ellen Gentile, that they were going to get a search warrant. Soon after, an investigator spotted Gina Gentile with a suitcase she was about to put into her vehicle. Inside, investigators said was her mother's favorite cat.
    Gina Gentile, community development coordinator for the town of Mesilla, was arrested on a charge of tampering with evidence. She was later charged with animal cruelty and child abuse.
    A town official said Gentile would be placed on leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
    Gentile's 15-year-old son, who was not home at the time, was placed in state custody. Her mother was taken to Mesilla Valley Hospital for observation.

Copyright ©2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.