Arrest Is Made Over Dead Pets
By ANNIE DIMMICKWHEELING - When a man hired to haul items from the Wheeling home of Brenda Lee Magdich first entered her basement in August, he got a surprise.
According to Marshall County sheriff's Deputy Steven White, the man came across an emaciated dog, with no food or water, living in its own excrement among piles of garbage. But that was just the beginning and now, Magdich, 39, is facing four felony counts of animal cruelty.
Magdich was arrested by deputies late Wednesday. She was taken to the Northern Regional Jail and later released on $6,500 bond.
Searches of the home by the department led to the discovery of another dog in a similar condition, as well as a dead bird and guinea pig, both still in their cages, White said. The pets were found in Magdich's 9 Carl St. home within two days of each other, launching a months-long investigation.
Shortly after their discovery, both dogs had to be euthanized due to the condition they were left in, White said. He noted the man immediately alerted the department upon discovering the first dog.
"Prior to mine and Marshall County Animal Control Officer Mike Baker's arrival, the (first) dog had started having seizures," White said, adding that the dog was still suffering from seizures upon their arrival. "There was no water or food for the dog. There were piles of garbage and animal feces all over the floor."
He added that dog also had extremely long toe nails, several areas of missing or thinning hair and an "extremely foul" odor.
According to Baker, an autopsy revealed that the only trace of food in the second dog was what was eaten prior to it being euthanized.
"It would have taken several days for the dog's digestive system to be completely empty," White said.
White said Baker was also told by the veterinarian who did the autopsy that it would have taken several weeks for the dog's physical condition to become as bad as it was.
If convicted, Magdich could be sentenced to one to five years in prison and fined between $1,000 and $5,000 for each charge, according to West Virginia Code.
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DavidB
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08-21-09 1:25 PM
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I would take the choclate lab I have 3 and what a sweet dog
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dragon4life
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08-06-09 1:42 AM
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How does anyone really know what happened. Everyone always takes sides before they really know the truth. And we judge them all, we have no idea what happened only that she paid the person who promised her they would take care of them. She just trusted a wrong person. So we shouldn't be judging no one. Until we know for sure.
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dragon4life
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08-06-09 12:46 AM
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And the last that I heard "Madaboutthis" she doesn't have ne more dogs and why should it matter if she did its no one's business except for hers and a couple other peoples.
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dragon4life
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08-06-09 12:44 AM
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Why do people always start stuff when they don't have any reason to say anything other people out there do this and they get absolutely nothing done to them.From what I heard from people in Cameron the beautiful Chocolate Lab right across from the grade school is well takin care of. Any problems just write we'd love to see them.
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madaboutthis
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01-16-09 10:13 PM
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This will not stop her I bet she has a few new dogs by now.
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wonderwhy
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01-11-09 12:28 PM
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dragon- can you report them and get help for the dog. that is a crime. can someone just take the dog and get it to a place where it will be loved and will love back. there has to be something wrong with these people
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DragonFan
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01-09-09 10:44 PM
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"Has anybody considered the possibility that this woman's just plain crazy?" She's not crazy. She was fully aware of what she was doing. The same family has one that is kept tied to concrete steps right across from the grade school. A beautiful chocolate lab.
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miranda26041
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01-09-09 9:27 PM
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I just dont understand people....how can anyone hurt living, breathing, hepless animals or even children. I read the news daily but every time I do,it just gets more horrifying day by day!
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LoveWV2
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01-09-09 7:43 PM
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I don't care if she's crazy or not she should be punished. She abused helpless creatures. These animals could not help themselves and would have most certainly offered her unconditional love had she given them the chance. I am utterly disgusted by people who abuse animals. And before you jump my butt, I don't like those who abuse children either.
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DavidF
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01-09-09 6:28 PM
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My Comments are too abusive to mention.
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wonderwhy
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01-09-09 5:52 PM
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Katy- you go against the opionion of most. remember, it those ultra liberals with bleeding hearts
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Mom2three
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01-09-09 4:15 PM
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I hope this woman isn't permitted to plead down on this case. She needs to serve jail time, even it's the minimum one-year for each animal.
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TruthSeeker
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01-09-09 3:34 PM
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Katy, what department at Ogden are you employed by? Just curious...
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eerhere
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01-09-09 1:54 PM
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Well, now you've done it. I am totally lost. What does New Martinsville residents have to do with what goes on in Marshall County? Just pray that people who treat animals this way, have no children.
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ConservativeKaty
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01-09-09 12:33 PM
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This is a sensitive story about a sad situation. It is hard to believe so many on these posts criticize the conservative view of this paper so immediately and with no good reason. Allegedly, they would have us believe that the staff writers are chained in basements between assignments, paid unfairly for business use of their vehicles, and unfed except by yearly bonus candy. Well, keep being Mightily Right, Intelligencer and News-Register, helping us all better follow your credo of moral crescendo: “Right Here. Right Now.”
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tacomeatman
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01-09-09 10:20 AM
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There are a lot of people in New Martinsville that like to abuse animals but the police don't want to be bothered with it.
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TruthSeeker
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01-09-09 9:26 AM
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Well at least the dogs were not "tethered" outside where someone could have seen that they weren't being fed.
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boxerboy
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01-09-09 9:00 AM
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People who have such little disregard for the suffering of caged animals deserve the harshest punishment the law allows. Disgusting.
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