Montana: Rebecca Korn, 56, accused of leaving 12 cats to die; police found their bodies inside her trailer. Sister believes there may have been up to 20 cats that slowly died inside.

MONTANA -- Acting Justice of the Peace Mike Frellick ordered a 56-year-old Condon woman released from the Missoula County jail without bail after Missoula police found a dozen decomposing cats Wednesday in a residence she abandoned.

Rebecca Korn appeared in Justice Court on Thursday and is charged with one felony count of aggravated animal cruelty.

According to an affidavit, Korn’s sister reported to law enforcement Wednesday that Korn had abandoned her home several months ago, leaving a number of cats that she thought may not have been provided for.

The sister originally thought it was upward of 20 cats, Missoula Police Sgt. Travis Welsh said.

Missoula police contacted Korn at her place of employment, and she made a remark that she knew why they were there.

“With the woman’s consent, she gave us permission to enter the residence and check the welfare of the animals,” Welsh said.

WHY DID SHE LEAVE THE CATS INSIDE TO DIE?
She stated that she was suffering from depression and had abandoned the home because “she couldn’t take it anymore,” the affidavit said.

When officers opened the door to the residence, they were met with a pungent odor, described as “unbearable.”

Officers said every surface in the house was covered in cat feces.

After retrieving Tyvek protective suits and masks, police entered the residence and found decaying skeletons of approximately 12 cats.

The affidavit said aside from a few open cans of cat food, there were no signs of provisions left out for the animals.

The woman looked down and rocked back and forth when she appeared in court Thursday.

The state suggested $2,500 bail and a restriction on having pets.

The defense agreed the woman should be restricted from owning pets, but requested Korn be released on her own recognizance.

The woman stated that she currently doesn’t own any animals.

Frellick honored the defense’s request, allowing the woman to be released on her own recognizance without posting bond.

Yeah, just let her walk right out of the courtroom without having to pay one red cent. Morons.

“First of all, during the course of these proceedings, you are not to have any pets,” Frellick said. “Nor are you to care for anyone else’s pets.”

A preliminary hearing was set for Sept. 13.

(The Missoulian - Aug 30 2013)