Thomas Silbaugh escapes earthly justice by dying; judge will allow repeat animal abusing widow Diane Silbaugh to attend funeral

OHIO -- A Cuyahoga Falls man died just three days after he and his wife pleaded guilty to an animal cruelty charge and were sentenced to 90 days in jail. The man's widow will be allowed to attend her husband's funeral, according to the bailiff for Stow Municipal Court Judge Kim Hoover.

Thomas J. Silbaugh died Aug. 29 at Western Reserve Hospital at the age of 58, according to an obituary from Russell-Sly Family Funeral Home in Middlefield.

 

 

 

On Silbaugh's Facebook page, one of his children on Aug. 30 posted a message stating: "It saddens my heart to inform you all that my dad, Thomas Silbaugh, passed away Saturday evening 8/29 … Heaven has gained another angel. RIP Lucky Puppy."

Where are the Facebook posts lamenting the deaths of all the animals their father killed by abuse and neglect??

Mr. Silbaugh and his wife, Diane, 62, pleaded guilty to one count of cruelty to animals in Stow Municipal Court on Aug. 26. Three other counts of the same charge were dismissed.

The Humane Society of Greater Akron officers removed 14 horses and five rabbits from the Silbaughs' house on West Bath Road in February.

Judge Hoover sentenced the Silbaughs to 90 days in jail, but allowed Mr. Silbaugh to serve his time on house arrest with no release other than for medical needs. Mr. Silbaugh, who attended the proceeding in a wheelchair, had lived in a nursing and rehabilitation facility since February.

Diane Silbaugh, however, was immediately taken into custody to begin serving her 90-day sentence.

 

Diane starved this horse back in 2008

Beth Magelaner, Judge Hoover's courtroom bailiff, told the Falls News-Press on Sept. 3 that Judge Hoover will allow Diane Silbaugh to be released from jail to attend the visitation and military honors for her husband at Russell-Sly Family Funeral Home on Sept. 6.

Diane Silbaugh's attorney, Thomas Loepp, on Sept. 2 filed a motion seeking permission for her to attend, according to court records. Magelaner emphasized that Judge Hoover's order will specify that Diane Silbaugh will be released only for the hours of the visitation and military honors on Sept. 6.

Magelaner said the official order was expected to be issued on Sept. 4.

(News Leader - September 3, 2015)

Earlier:

• Portage County woman,  Diane Silbaugh, admits starving horses
• Cuyahoga Falls woman, Diane Silbaugh, accused of abusing horses was convicted of similar abuse that led to six horse deaths
• Diane and Thomas Silbaugh charged with animal cruelty; neglected horses euthanized
• Cuyahoga Falls couple pleads guilty to neglecting 14 horses, including three that were euthanized
• Cuyahoga Falls couple sentenced to jail for animal cruelty
• Cuyahoga Falls couple - Diane Silbaugh and Thomas Silbaugh - pleads guilty to animal cruelty charge, sentenced to 90 days in jail

Related:

• No More Animals for Diane Silbaugh (Facebook)