A 54 year-old Newtown woman who fled the United States to avoid prosecution for the largest case of farm animal cruelty in Bucks County history authorities say, was taken into custody by members of the U.S. Marshals Eastern Pennsylvania Violent Crimes Fugitive Task Force who transported her from Belize and turned her over to the Newtown Township Police Department around 10:30 p.m. Friday.
Abigail Tuttle O’Keeffe was charged in January with more than 100 counts of animal cruelty in what the Bucks County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals described as the largest case of farm animal cruelty in county history. O’Keeffe fled the country shortly after charges were brought against her, said authorities.
On April 25, O’Keefe was arrested for possession of a firearm in Benque Viejo, Belize. The U.S. State Department notified the U.S. Marshals Service O’Keeffe was in custody and inquired if they would be willing to return her to the United States, officials said.
The U.S. Marshals Service coordinated the deportation process with the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office and on Sept. 18 O’Keefe’s criminal case in Belize was settled. O’Keeffe was then turned over to the U.S. Marshals Service and escorted from Belmopan, Belize, to Philadelphia, authorities said.
This investigation included the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force in Philadelphia, U.S. Marshals Office of International Operations, U.S. Department of State, Bucks County District Attorney’s Office, Bucks County Sheriff’s Office, INTERPOL Washington, and law enforcement in Belize, said law enforcement officials,.
“While the U.S. Marshals Service remains steadfast in its mission to capture violent fugitives, after learning of the heinous animal cruelty allegations against Ms. O’Keefe, we were pleased to assist the Bucks County D.A.’s Office in facilitating her extradition from Belize,” said Eric Gartner, U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
“This was an exceptional case in terms of the number of animals, severity of their suffering, and the interagency cooperation required to bring Ms. O’Keeffe back to the United States to face charges and gain justice for the animals,” said Nikki Thompson, Chief Humane Society Police Officer at Bucks County SPCA.
Credit: Sunshine Foundation
“We are very pleased to see Abigail O’Keeffe back in Bucks County so that a measure of justice can be served on behalf of the animals who suffered, and several who died, as a result of gross neglect. The cost to our shelter for the care of these animals has been exorbitant because of the sheer number of animals, their complex medical needs, and length of time in our care. We still have 2 pot bellied pigs (Ozzy and Dudley) and 2 goats (Vincent Van Goat and Goatzart) up for adoption now. Three other goats are going home today!,” said Cindy Kelly Bucks SPCA spokeswoman.
On -call Magisterial District Judge Gary Gambardella arraigned O’Keeffe at 2:14 am Saturday on the 149 counts which include two felony charges of aggravated cruelty to animals, 21 misdemeanor counts of animal neglect remanding her to Bucks County Prison on 10 percent of $500,000.00 bail.
She is currently scheduled to appear in court on October 2 to answer to the charges . She has no current attorney of record currently listed according to online court records.
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