Man accused of starving dogs wanted after missing hearing

UPDATE: The Greene Township man did not appear for his preliminary hearing, resulting in his charges being sent to the next higher court Tuesday.

Jorge Elias Derieux Abreu is wanted on a bench warrant, after failing to appear at Tuesday's hearing, according to online court documents.

Shauna Stroup did appear, and waived her preliminary hearing on the charges, sending the case to the next higher court. Bail was added to Stroup's case, set at $75,000.

Stroup is being held at Franklin County Jail, unable to post bail.

GREENE TOWNSHIP - Three German shepherds are dead after two Chambersburg residents starved them and another dog earlier this summer in a feces-filled basement, according to police.

Shauna Rae Stroup, 34, and Jorge Elias Derieux Abreu, 42, are both charged with four counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty in connection with the abuse of the four dogs, according to court documents.

Space limits create hazards and hassle in court system

Authorities encountered the four dogs, Bear, Beard, Deffenburg and Rosie, in a basement where feces and urine covered the floor and  food and water were not available. According to court documents, a Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter Humane Society police officer and a Pennsylvania State Police, Chambersburg trooper saw the four dogs in the basement of Stroup and Derieux Abreu's 4900 block Byer's Road residence, around 4:15 p.m. June 8.

Two of the dogs were already dead when officers arrived.

The officers found Deffenburg and Rosie had been deprived of necessary sustenance and drink, causing them to be tortured, disfigured and to die, according to court documents.

The dog Beard was alive when police found him but in bad enough condition that he had to be euthanized.

The only dog alive and treatable was Bear, who weighed 35.2 pounds. Police estimated that is half the normal body weight of the breed, which averages between 70 and 72 pounds.

Investigators reported that when they found the dogs, they were in the basement of the residence, where the floor was covered in feces and urine. There was no food or water in the basement for the dogs.

Investigators brought the living dogs to the veterinarian after removing them from the house. A bill for treatment of $554.50 is now a part of a restitution request.

Derieux Abreu and Stroup were issued summons on the charges in June, with their preliminary hearings scheduled for Tuesday.

Neither have been in police custody.

Becky Metrick, 717-262-4762