Woman Arrested in Animal Neglect Case That Left 27 Horses Dead

A woman was arrested this week after authorities discovered a stunning case of alleged animal abuse and neglect across at least two California properties, in which 27 horses were found dead.

The San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that deputies had executed a search warrant on Wednesday regarding an ongoing animal neglect investigation in Clements, CA. Multiple properties were searched, discovering several malnourished horses on the premises that had limited access to food and water, in addition to the animals that were already deceased.

Animal Services officers and veterinarians were on hand to evaluate the condition of the horses. After a thorough assessment, 16 were rescued and are now in the care of professionals at the Oakdale Equine Rescue, where they will receive proper nutrition, medical attention, and rehabilitation. Sadly, not every animal could be saved, and four additional horses and one bull were ultimately euthanized due to extreme neglect.

However, due to the size of the property, additional horses and animals were still in the process of being evaluated.

Police arrested 62-year-old Jan Johnson in connection with the abused animals, who was charged with cruelty to an animal, threatening a public official, criminal threats, and possession of a short-barrel shotgun. According to CBS News, Johnson already had a warrant out for her arrested for allegedly making threats to a school, employees, and officers. She was subsequently booked into the San Joaquin County jail.

"We are committed to protecting the welfare of all animals in our community and will continue to investigate this matter," the sheriff’s office added in the statement. "Thank you to our Deputies and Animal Services team for their dedication and swift action in addressing this situation. We would also like to thank Oakdale Equine Rescue for their incredible support in assisting us with this rescue."