Theft case against Putnam pair yields animal cruelty charge as well

POLAND -- While investigating a theft case involving both suspects and victims from Putnam County, authorities have uncovered an alleged menagerie of animal cruelty occurring on property in the Owen County community of Poland.

In all, 83 animals, including 29 pot-bellied pigs, have been removed from the suspected animal hoarding situation, the Owen County Humane Society has reported.

Potbellied pigs found caged without food and water available on Poland property.

Eleven dogs, 14 cats, 11 goats, seven chickens, seven rabbits, two ducks, a rooster and a guinea pig were also taken from property on Tulip Trace Drive in northern Owen County last week.

Law enforcement officials were there on another investigation -- the reported theft of a camper -- when they discovered the animals and their deplorable conditions.

Putnam County residents Tonia Chanel Torres, 40, and husband Evan Cole VanBibber, 32, Bainbridge, were arrested by the Owen County Sheriff's Department. Both are lodged at the Owen County Security Center in Spencer.

Torres was arrested on preliminary charges of theft, a Level 6 felony, and abandonment or neglect of vertebrate animals, a Class A misdemeanor.

VanBibber is being held on felony charges of theft, burglary, auto theft, receiving stolen property and on a warrant for battery in a 2017 case.

According to the probable cause affidavit filed by the Owen County Sheriff's Department, the case began to unfold July 4 when Jeffery Eckerman, of Plainfield, reported his camper stolen from property along Gerrard Chapel Road in Owen County.

The camper was discovered two hours later attached to a 2005 Chevrolet Silverado registered to VanBibber. Authorities obtained a search warrant for the property and VanBibber's vehicle, which was executed July 6.

It was then that deputies came across the animal issue, finding goats, dogs, pigs and more, many covered in their own feces and reportedly lacking available food or water.

Inside a small fenced area, five goats -- including one which appeared to be dead -- were discovered penned with no food or water available in bowls found within the area.

Inside the camper, investigators discovered several pigs, which appeared to be in poor health, locked inside small cages and others inside a small shed with no light or air flow. The pigs likewise appeared to have no access to food or water.

Frail-looking dogs, many with their ribs showing, were also discovered, including a Rottweiler with several newborn puppies secured within a small fenced area.

With the exception of one dog, Torres told authorities all the animals are hers and said she comes to the property "every day" to care for them.

Owen County authorities contacted the Indiana Board of Health for assistance, and it confiscated the animals for their welfare.

The Owen County Humane Society is caring for most of the animals. It said the 11 goats were taken to an animal rescue in Spencer.

Meanwhile, investigators also were approached by Roachdale residents Drema Surber and Robert Sawyer, who told authorities they had been sent there to recover a blue 1999 Suzuki that Torres and VanBibber had been operating. Surber and Sawyer also explained that their Putnam County property had recently been burglarized on two separate occasions.

Several items reportedly belonging to Surber and Sawyer -- including "Milwaukee-type" power tools and a 400-watt generator -- were found on the property and inside a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu owned by Torres.

In an odd aside, Torres made several statements to investigators about being pregnant with triplets, even noting she was eight months pregnant, according to the probable cause affidavit.

However, later at the Owen County Security Center, a test performed by the duty nurse determined Torres is not pregnant at all.