LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. — A Conoy Township man accused of abandoning more than 20 animals in a vacant home has waived his preliminary hearing, allowing his case to proceed to county court.
Jadden Alexander Moore, 21, appeared before Judge Randall Miller on Feb. 27, facing 80 charges, including aggravated cruelty to animals, cruelty to animals, and neglect of animals. Authorities say Moore and two co-defendants left the animals behind after being evicted from a home on the 100 block of Falmouth Road in September 2023 without notifying officials.
A Pennsylvania SPCA humane society officer discovered the abandoned animals in October 2023. Initial findings included 15 adult cats, a kitten, three domestic rats, and a snake, with one cat euthanized due to its condition. Weeks later, after a suspected burglary, investigators found dozens more animals, including guinea pigs, rabbits, and kittens, as well as dead animals wrapped in plastic bags inside two freezers. In total, 21 living and 55 dead animals were recovered.
A forensic examination found the surviving animals severely underweight, dehydrated, flea-infested, and suffering from various medical conditions.
Moore remains in Lancaster County Prison on $45,000 bail. Co-defendant Mary Good waived her preliminary hearing in October and is being held on $20,000 bail, while Eric Werner was released on $150,000 unsecured bail.
The case, filed by the Pennsylvania SPCA, highlights one of the region’s most severe animal cruelty investigations in recent years.
