Woman facing charges of animal cruelty for third time

Leilani Hamm

More than 30 animals -- ranging from dogs and cats to pot-bellied pigs and peacocks -- have been confiscated from a Putnam County property whose owners face charges of animal cruelty.

For Leilani M. Hamm, 35, Greencastle, it is the third time in six years that she is facing animal cruelty charges. A prior conviction elevates her charges to a Level 6 felony.

Her boyfriend/husband, Wayne A. Wyrick, 41, Greencastle, was also arrested and has been charged with a Class A misdemeanor count of animal cruelty.

Both suspects appeared in Putnam Superior Court Wednesday for their initial hearings. Wyrick has been released from the Putnam County Jail after posting $500 bond. Hamm was held on $2,000 cash bond and was released on home detention in her third allegation and second felony case.

The “convoluted mess,” as Chief Deputy Prosecutor Austin Malayer called it, began Feb. 9 when probation officials, visiting the site at 7956 W. County Road 75 South on a compliance check of Hamm, reportedly observed signs of animal neglect and requested Animal Control to respond.

Animal Control Officer Kristopher Wallace, accompanied by vet tech Lauren Gutschlag, responded and first observed two horses tied to separate trees with no access to water and one of the horses exhibiting signs of long-term neglect.

Upon entering the barn, Wallace reported observing a trash can filled with feed and inhabited by multiple mice. Multiple livestock were found in another section of the barn with no food found and only filthy water in two bowls. The officer reported that the floor was completely covered in excrement.

It was at that point he saw a black SUV drive halfway down the driveway, with the driver -- identified as Hamm -- observing what was happening, reversing course and taking off “at a high rate of speed,” according to the probable cause affidavit.

Further investigation indicated that one of the pigs and a goat were suffering signs of neglect as well as both being dehydrated. The pig was lame, severely underweight and had a skin infection as well, it was noted.

One of the horses, a gray gelding, was also clearly neglected, the report stated. With no access to water, it was severely dehydrated and tethered to a tree. With no access to food, the horse gnawed the bark off the tree, causing its teeth to wear down on both sides to the point that the veterinarian could not determine its age. The horse finally died, Malayer said.

The other horse was also reported as underweight but in better condition than the gray gelding. A draft mule was said to be the healthiest of the bunch as he was left loose and able to access food and water but also showed signs of neglect.

Also found on the site was a dead bird, partially buried, that was either a duck or turkey.

When Wyrick showed up at the property a short time later, he was described as “furious and yelling,” telling authorities the animals “got fed every day.” He was arrested and taken to Putnam County Jail where he was later joined by Hamm.

While a number of cats and dogs, including a Great Pyrenees and Anatolian Shepherd, were removed and several taken to the Putnam County Humane Society Animal Shelter, the horses, mule, goats, pigs, two chickens, two pot-bellied pigs, four peacocks, a duck and a turkey have been taken to other animal rescue sites or foster animal properties.

Advising that Hamm was being charged with animal cruelty “for the third time,” Deputy Prosecutor Malayer said a 2019 case resulted in a bench trial conviction and November 2021 sentencing of one year of probation and restitution for the animal care resulting from her first offense, a sum reported as $13,000.

An April 2022 case involving two felony counts of animal cruelty is still pending after Hamm initially said she would hire her own attorney, then didn’t and asked for a public defender as the case dragged out. Trudy Selvia was ultimately assigned to the case and is expected to continue for the latest proceedings.

Hamm reportedly tried to say the animals were not hers and she didn’t live on the property but then showed up at the same time authorities were there investigating the scene, Malayer noted. Wyrick was not charged in the first two cases as he was reportedly working out of state at the time and the animals reportedly had been left in Hamm’s care, the deputy prosecutor added.

As a condition of her bond in the previous case, Hamm was ordered to not have any animals in her care.

A pretrial conference in Hamm’s case was set for 9 a.m. May 1 in Superior Court, while Wyrick will have a pretrial conference on May 8.