A La Pine man is being charged with animal neglect after Deschutes County Sheriff’s detectives say they found more than 100 dead animals. The investigation began last October at a home in the 50000 block of Deer Street south of La Pine. A woman contacted the sheriff’s office after entering the house to retrieve property that belonged to a business where the homeowner used to work. The Sheriff’s Office says she reported finding several dead reptiles around the house, which appeared to be abandoned. A patrol deputy responded and found more than 100 dead and rotting animal carcasses inside the house including those of snakes, lizards, turtles, rodents and tarantulas. No live animals were found, nor were any humans inside.
It took Sheriff’s detectives several months to find and interview the homeowner, 68-year-old William Griffiths. During the interview, they developed probable cause for animal neglect crimes. Sergeant Chris Barringer told the Source that while the Sheriff’s Office has the authority to make an arrest on probable cause, it often makes sense to wait for an indictment if the case is complex.
A Deschutes County grand jury returned an indictment on June 13 charging Griffiths with 25 counts of Animal Neglect in the First Degree. Oregon Revised Statutes include reptiles as an animal in animal neglect statutes.
Deputies arrested Griffiths on June 19, at a trailer in the 63000 block of Dickey Road east of Bend. As of June 19, Griffiths was lodged in the Deschutes County Jail on a $30,000 bond. His first court appearance is scheduled for 1:30pm on June 20.
This article appears in Source Weekly June 19, 2025.
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