Her mother and the mother's partner faced charges of aggravated animal cruelty. In addition to the animal abuse allegations, the mother was also hit with charges for endangering a minor's welfare.
Arkansas resident Boddie E. Williams, 38, accepted a negotiated guilty plea to one count of aggravated cruelty to a dog, cat or equine in December and received 36 months of probation, with 24 months under supervision. The girl's mother, Samantha Platz, remains awaiting trial. In July 2023, officials visited the home following an anonymous tip requesting a welfare check on a girl residing there.
However, when authorities arrived, they were "immediately overwhelmed by a strong foul odor consistent with the presence of a large number of animals," reports the Mirror US.
The girl questioned officers during their search: "What about the cats in the freezer?" When pressed for details, the victim informed her: "There are a lot of dead cats in the freezer."
Officers observed the cats were discovered in a curled position, which indicated that they were frozen alive. Officers spotted 10 or more cats and "large quantities" of cat urine and feces throughout the house, mixed with human food, pet food, and garbage. Police found the girl in her bedroom, sitting on a mattress. "The room, like the rest of the house, was heavily soiled with urine, feces, and refuse. The air inside the home was barely breathable due to a strong ammonia odor," an officer documented.
