WARNING: Some readers may find the following article disturbing due to mentions of hoarding, elder abuse, and animal abuse.
CEDAR CREST, N.M. (KRQE) – What started as a welfare check in Cedar Crest has led to a woman facing 19 counts of animal cruelty and a warrant out for her arrest. 74-year-old Deborah Battaglino failed to show up to court after at least 10 dead animals were removed from her home.
When a detective observed hoarding conditions during a welfare check at a Cedar Crest home, a search warrant was issued, allowing authorities to investigate what was going on in the condemned home. KRQE News 13 obtained body camera footage from the deputies’ search that day, as well as an interview with a man who was all too familiar with the situation.
Deputy: “You know what I’m excited to go home and do? Take a shower.”
An 83-year-old man owns the home but is not thought to be involved in the hoarding and alleged animal abuse. Detectives interviewed the man and learned he invited Battaglino in about 20 years ago because he didn’t want her to be homeless. But as soon as she moved in, problems began to, quite literally, pile up.
Homeowner: “Unfortunately, the house has gotten so screwed up, cluttered up, that I can’t cook for myself.”
The homeowner says he last was able to go into the kitchen five years ago and that Battaglino’s “rescued” animals have since taken over the property. “It’s very troubling to think that someone had to live like that for such a long time,” says Detective Kevin Carhart with the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office.
Homeowner: “She’s got a rooster; two roosters now.”
Homeowner: “I don’t know how many cats she’s got in there.”
Among the clutter, deputies found a handful of animals, as well as the remains of several others. According to a criminal complaint, deputies rescued the following animals from the home: one rooster, two white ducks, three chihuahuas, four cats, two parrots, two parakeets, a rat, and a squirrel. The remains of the following animals were found on the property: two cats, one horse, two chickens, two small birds, one parrot, one rabbit, and one rat.
Deputy: “Pretty much most of the cages have something dead in them.”
After the search, officials accused Battaglino of 19 counts of animal cruelty. She was supposed to be arraigned, but she failed to appear in court, and now, there is a warrant out for her arrest. Each count of animal cruelty is a fourth-degree felony, and Battaglino faces up to 18 months behind bars for each count.
BCSO says this case has a mental health aspect, and resources have been offered to Battaglino with no success. “The next best thing that we can do is build that criminal case and hope that resources stem from that and that she gets the help that she needs so she doesn’t continue harming people and animals,” says Sgt. Autumn Neas with the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office.
The Sheriff’s Office filed with the Paws Program, an animal-related diversionary court; however, the case was considered to be too severe. The District Attorney’s Office is now involved.
BCSO will soon release an online anonymous tip form on their website for people to report cases of animal cruelty.
