Marion County man Marlin Rae Adkins is facing over a dozen animal cruelty charges after law enforcement found multiple deceased horses and severely malnourished animals with no access to food or water on his property in Montgomery Township. Deputies and a humane agent responded to a report of a horse stuck in a pasture fence, which led to the discovery of seven dead horses with varying degrees of decay, as well as living horses and goats without access to food or water.
A neighbor helped deputies free the emaciated horse from the fence, but the animal had to be euthanized due to its condition. The remaining animals on the property, 11 horses and two goats, were found with frozen water sources and no grain or hay available. Adkins, 71, is charged with 18 counts of Cruelty to Animals and three counts of Failure to Register a Canine, with more charges possible pending evaluation by a veterinarian.
Sheriff Matt Bayles described the conditions the animals were living in as deplorable and emphasized the importance of protecting those who cannot protect themselves. The rescued animals were accepted by the Diamond M Veterinary Clinic and the Wyandot County Humane Society, and five Marion County citizens will be recognized for their assistance during the rescue effort.
