ABUSE, hoarding, neglect, abandonment
https://www.facebook.com/ann.centofanti
DOG DITCHITNG DUO DESTROYED PREVIOUS HOME. MOTHER & DAUGHTER WANTED ON FELONY CHARGES
BSO Case Number: OP07-11-03701
PIO Number: 08-2-4-A
Date: November 28, 2007
Place of Occurrence: 4431 NE 15 Way, Oakland Park
Jurisdiction: Oakland Park
Victim(s): Deborah Hillstrom, 52, female, 4431 NE 15 Way, Oakland Park
Suspect(s):
- Ann M. Centofanti, 44, female, 03/09/63 (AT LARGE)
- Ann Frances Hesse-Centofanti, 24, female, 05/20/83 (AT LARGE)
Description of Incident:
A mother and daughter that allegedly abandoned 49 animals on February 3rd are wanted for grand theft and criminal mischief after causing thousands of dollars worth of damage to their previous rented home.
On November 28, 2007 BSO deputies responded to 4431 NE 15 Way in Oakland Park for a civil matter. The arriving deputies learned that two tenants of the recently refurbished and fully furnished home had been evicted for not paying rent. The homeowner’s daughter, Lindsay Hillstrom, 25, discovered the vacated home but was unable to gain entry because the locks had been changed, reportedly by the evicted tenants, Ann M. Centofanti, 44 and her daughter Ann Frances Hesse-Centofanti, 24. After a locksmith was called in, Hillstrom “found the entire house in disaster and the majority of the furnishings had been stolen, with the remaining furnishings destroyed,” according to the complaint affidavit. The report by BSO Oakland Park Detective Brian Rupp stated “…it looked like a battle scene. There were feces spread throughout the entire house, including inside the washing machine, sinks, and walls.” Rupp continued “There were large portions of walls that had been chewed past the wire mesh and the stench was unbearable. As I walked through the residence I was attacked by thousands of fleas.” Det. Rupp also added “It was the worst case of vandalism I had seen in over (20) years of law enforcement, and it only occurred over a five month period.”
The homeowner, Deborah Hillstrom, 52, reported the damage at $45,000 inside the house plus $15,000 for the stolen furnishings. The cost just to disinfect the structure so it could be entered safely was $8,000. Hillstrom said she expects the total cost to top $100,000.
On February 3rd, BSO deputies responded to 1725 Floranada Dr. in Oakland Park to a report of 49 abandoned animals at that address. BSO detectives noted the similarities between the two cases and developed information that led them to the same two women, Centofanti and her daughter, Hesse-Centofanti. The suspects’ identity was confirmed in a photo lineup by several witnesses and arrest warrants were issued on February 4th.
BSO detectives believe the suspects are in a new home in the area, likely with some animals. They might be traveling in a white 2004 Ford Mustang belonging to Ann Frances Hesse-Centofanti with Florida tag I51-7AI. If anyone sees them, they should call BSO Det. Brian Rupp at 954-561-6111 or contact Broward Crime Stoppers, anonymously, at 954-493-TIPS (8477) or online at www.browardcrimestoppers.org
INVESTIGATORS: D-12, Chief Bukata, Sgt. Lacerra, Det.Rupp
THIS REPORT BY: Mike Jachles/PIO 02/04/08 2355 Nearly 50 Filthy Pets Found in Feces on Floranada Drive, Orange Park
BSO Case Number: OP08-02-00298
PIO Number: 08-2-4
Date: February 3, 2008
Place of Occurrence: 1725 Floranada Dr., Oakland Park
Jurisdiction: Oakland Park
Victim(s):
- 46 adult dogs and puppies, mixed breed
- 3 cats
Description of Incident:
49 animals were left behind at an Oakland Park duplex after the tenant left a note on a neighbor’s door, then packed up and moved out.
Broward Sheriff’s Office Oakland Park deputies responded to a complaint about animal abuse/neglect at 1725 Floranada Dr. in Oakland Park late Sunday morning. When they arrived, the tenant in the adjacent duplex told deputies that the woman who lived at 1725 Floranada Dr. packed up and loaded her belongings in a U-Haul truck around 3:30 a.m. on February 3rd. They also told deputies that a note was taped to their door from the female tenant that asked the neighbor to “look after her animals or give them to an organization that wouldn’t put them to sleep.”
What deputies encountered inside the duplex was beyond belief. There were dozens of animals, adult dogs, puppies and three cats inside the house. Not only were the animals covered in feces and excrement, but every floor and wall in every room in that half of the duplex was covered in animal waste. While humane officers filled up three trucks with two dozen dogs, BSO deputies removed 13 puppies and an adult dog from a utility room and located them to the backyard to await two additional Animal Care trucks from the next shift. The stench was so intense that even after Broward County Animal Care and Regulation officers removed all of the animals, the smell still reeked throughout the neighborhood. All 46 dogs and the three cats had been taken away by 3:00 p.m. The animals appeared to be healthy to some degree. There was food and water for them, but the conditions they were subject to is currently under investigation by the Abuse and Neglect unit of BSO. Detectives would like to talk to the pets’ owner to hear what she has to say. The exact identification of the tenant wasn’t available Sunday afternoon but detectives are working to obtain that information.
The unidentified female tenant had only lived there since December, 2007. During the brief time, the landlord received a complaint from the next door tenant about an odor. The landlord had an exterminator come in and place traps in the attic for rodents. The landlord told deputies that they didn’t enter the pet-filled residence because the tenant had apparently changed the locks.
The Broward Sheriff’s Office takes animal abuse/neglect cases seriously and charges, if appropriate will be determined when the investigation is completed.
INVESTIGATORS: D-12, Chief Bukata, Sgts. Brown, Sabo, BSO Abuse & Neglect,
Broward Co. Animal Care & Reg.
THIS REPORT BY: Mike Jachles/PIO 02/03/08 2030.
DIRTY DEEDS LAND DUO IN DOGHOUSE. MOTHER & DAUGHTER ARRESTED; LIVED IN HOUSE WITH 63 DOGS AND GRANDMA
BSO Case Number: OP08-02-00298
PIO Number: 8-2-4-B (see 08-2-4 & 08-2-4-A)
Date: February 3, 2008
Place of Occurrence: 1725 NE 45 St., Oakland Park
Jurisdiction: Oakland Park
Victim(s): Kimberly Roy, female, 1725 NE 45 St., Oakland Park
Suspect(s):
- Ann M. Centofanti, 44, female, 03/09/63, 1344 NW 6 Ave., Ft. Lauderdale (IN CUSTODY)
- Ann Frances Hesse-Centofanti, 24, female, 05/20/83, 1244 NW 6 Ave., Ft. Lauderdale (IN CUSTODY)
Description of Incident: A mother and daughter that allegedly abandoned 50 animals on February 3rd and destroyed the home they rented turned themselves in to Broward Sheriff’s Office Oakland Park detectives on Tuesday, February 5th.
After seeing themselves on the news Monday, Ann M. Centofanti, 44, and her daughter Ann F. Hesse-Centofanti were arrested at the home they just rented in Ft. Lauderdale. Centofanti called BSO detectives early Tuesday morning to discuss turning herself and her daughter in to authorities. BSO detectives responded to 1344 NW 6 Ave. in Ft. Lauderdale and arrested both women on two outstanding warrants for grand theft and criminal mischief from a November, 2007 case (OP07-11-03701).
At the Ft. Lauderdale address detectives found 16 dogs living in the house, which had a strong urine-like stench inside. Also at the house was Centofanti’s 82-year-old mother, Lucy Violet Centofanti. She was transported by Ft. Lauderdale Fire Rescue to an area hospital to be checked out. Broward County Animal Care and Regulation officers responded with two trucks to remove the 16 dogs, ranging in sizes and demeanor. The dogs appeared to have been fed but were filthy. Also found in the home was a caged bird that was taken to the Wildlife Refuge Center in Ft. Lauderdale.
After being interviewed by detectives at the BSO Oakland Park District, the two women were transported to the Main Jail where they each face an additional charge of felony criminal mischief in connection to the 1725 NE 45 St. case from November 3rd. The damage and mess to the duplex on 45th St. was so extensive that a professional crime scene cleanup company hired by the landlord found one more dog buried in the debris today. Fortunately, the dog seemed healthy and was also picked up by humane officers.
INVESTIGATORS: D-12, Chief Bukata, Sgt. Lacerra, Det. Rupp
THIS REPORT BY: Mike Jachles/PIO 02/05/08 2200
Fort Lauderdale - Busted: Psycho Dog People
Dog-filth suspects were investigated last year
February 7, 2008
The women accused of serially trashing rental homes by packing them with unsupervised pets received a visit from BSO and DCF after neighbors complained of smelling dog feces last year.
A year before Broward sheriff’s deputies arrested a mother and her daughter on charges they wrecked rental homes with more than five dozen unwalked, unkempt dogs, authorities got a whiff of their scent.
On Feb. 8, 2007, a BSO deputy accompanied a Department of Children & Families investigator to the Oakland Park residence of Ann Centofanti and Ann Hesse-Centofanti for an elderly abuse investigation.
Neighbors of the Centofantis had expressed concern for the well-being of Lucy Centofanti, the family matriarch. Neighbors had not seen her in months.
Those neighbors also complained of a strong smell of dog feces coming from the home at 3475 NW 17th Ter., according to a police report.
Investigators found four dogs, some foul odor, a frail grandmother — but no sign of foul play.
In the next 12 months, the family went through at least three other homes, two of which needed to be completely gutted, and their pooch collection topped out at 63 before they called it quits, according to neighbors, landlords and the Broward Sheriff’s Office.
Earlier this week, they abandoned 46 dogs and three cats at an Oakland Park rental home that was so filled with waste deputies needed to wear hazmat suits to enter, BSO said.
Animal Hoarders Could Avoid Getting Caged With Open Plea
Women pleaded no contest grand theft charges
Oct 28, 2010
A mother and her daughter could avoid being caged after they changed their plea Thursday in a disgusting animal abuse case.
Ann M. Centofanti, 44, and 24-year-old Ann Frances Hesse-Centofanti, pleaded no contest to animal cruelty, grand theft and felony criminal mischief charges for keeping more than 60 dogs and cats in deplorable conditions in a house they abandoned in Oakland Park.
The legal move helps the women avoid trial and puts the fate of the first-time offenders in the hands of a judge.
In 2008, the Centofantis left 63 animals, most of them dogs, in a duplex they had just moved out of. The landlord came to the property and found the animals living in feces and urine-infested conditions, with fleas and other disease carrying insects everywhere.
The Centofantis also stole all the furniture out of the duplex before they left.
The animals were rescued and sent to local shelters. Miraculously none died, despite the lack of food or clean living conditions.
The duplex was so messy, that during clean up days later, workers found another dog buried under all the clutter. Clean up cost ran over $100,000 to disinfect the house.
Despite al lthe animals, the women face only one animal cruelty charge. The Centofantis said they kept all the animals because they didn't want to see them destroyed.
The Centofantis apparently made a habit of taking in strays, hoarding them, and then leaving them behind when they moved. Another landlord came forward and said the women did the same thing with 16 other dogs.
Sentencing is scheduled for next month.
Dozens of Dogs Rescued After Being Abandoned In Fort Lauderdale Neighborhood
February 4, 2014
FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) — Animal care and control officials rescued 23 dogs and 18 puppies from a filthy Fort Lauderdale home Tuesday after the tenant was evicted and neighbors said she walked away from the animals, sources told CBS 4 News.
Gracie Alexander, who lives across from the home on NW 7 Terrace, said on windy days the stench from the home was absolutely overwhelming. “Ammonia,” she said. “Horrendous. Just stinky.”
As night fell Tuesday, animal care and control officials finishing removing the last dog from the home. During the day, pictures from a CBS 4 viewer showed dogs everywhere and police trying to get a handle on the situation. A photo from inside the home showed the filth and dirt on the walls and two dog bowls of dirty water. “That was a crazy lady,” Alexander said.
Neighbors say when the tenant moved in two months ago, she didn’t have any dogs then suddenly she had dozens. The landlord said the tenant is Ann Centofanti, who lived in the home with her daughter. Neighbors say the pair was evicted on Tuesday. State prison records show Centofanti is on probation for several charges including torturing animals. Neighbors say she left a mess inside and out and simply abandoned all the dogs.
ALEXANDER: “She went walking down the street and they called the dog catcher for the dogs.”
CODD: “So she just left and left all the dogs behind?”
ALEXANDER: “All the dogs.”
CODD: “What do you think about somebody that could do that?”
ALEXANDER: “Well, that’s not her first time.”
CBS 4 News has reported on Ann Centofanti in the past. In this case, the landlord said her house is trashed and clean up could cost in the tens of thousands of dollars. A man named Albert who declined to give his last name said he was paid to clean out the inside of the house on Tuesday and only found one bag of dog food inside for all these animals. He believes the tenant should face criminal charges.
“They should be in jail,” Albert said. “That’s what I think. It’s animal cruelty.”
The dogs and puppies are now living at Broward County Animal Care and Control, where officials say they will be screened by a veterinarian on Wednesday morning in the hopes of adopting them out.
Florida’s Fourth District Court of Appeals
4D11-88-Ann Hesse Centofanti v. State*
4D11-89-Ann Centofanti v. State*
*Public Defender Cases
