Stench of 'decomposed flesh', docs reveal details of 90+ animal hoarding case

WARNING: This story contains graphic information.

McALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Police documents provided new details in a McAllen animal hoarding case that led to the arrest of two women.

On March 29, Cindy Ann Wells and Leticia Sanders were arrested by the McAllen Police Department on 94 counts of animal cruelty, according to Hidalgo County Jail records.

Cindy Wells (McAllen PD)

Leticia Sanders (McAllen PD)

Offense report

On Saturday morning, authorities received a call from an Uber Eats driver stating a home "smelled like death" upon delivering an order.

According to an offense report obtained by ValleyCentral, the responding officers arrived at the 3400 block of Ozark Avenue and detected a strong odor, which they described as "decomposed flesh."

When the officers approached the residence through the side gate, they said the stench of decomposed flesh got stronger.

According to the report, the officers walked to the rear of the residence and saw a small patio with a large amount of dog feces and stains of urine.

Moments later, Cindy Ann Wells opened the front door and spoke to police. Authorities explained to Wells they were investigating a "concerning smell of decomposed flesh coming from inside the residence."

Wells told police that everything was ok, her cousin lived with her, she owned 15 dogs and the smell was only coming from the feces that she needed to clean up.

When authorities were permitted to go inside the home, they saw 10 dirty dogs barking in the living room which was covered with more feces and urine stains.

They said the "odor was so strong and foul they weren't able to enter the residence further without protective equipment."

Authorities arrested Wells for animal cruelty after finding the pets were not receiving the proper care and shelter.

Moments later, Wells' cousin, later identified as Leticia Sanders, exited the residence. Authorities advised her that they were investigating a smell of decomposed flesh from inside the home. She told police there were some dogs inside the home but did not know how many.

Sanders was arrested on charges of animal cruelty, as well.

According to the report, authorities had to make a forced entry through the back of the residence, where they found a living room with dogs, who appeared to be stressed and covered in fecal matter.

They also found dogs barking behind three plastic barriers that kept them inside a dark garage. Police say, four dogs appeared to be in distress.

Inside the garage, authorities found what they say, appeared to be mold and feces. The report stated the stairway going to the second floor of the home was also covered in feces.

Additionally, they found approximately 20 dogs on the stairs and in the room above, and three more inside a restroom.

On the second floor, the report stated they found similar conditions, but with dog food scattered across the floor as well.

In the final two rooms, authorities found 21 dogs, also living in poor conditions, the document stated.

The report stated they found the following pets inside the home:

• One black female cat
• 14 male terrier dogs with dirty fur
• 6 white and black terrier dogs with dirty fur
• 28 female terrier dogs with dirty fur
• 12 cream-colored dogs with dirty fur
• One female black and white schnauzer with dirty fur
• Five poodles with dirty fur
• Five male collies with dirty fur
• Six female collies with dirty fur
• One male terrier/chihuahua with dirty fur
• Two female huskies with dirty fur
• Four chihuahuas with dirty fur
• Two male pugs with dirty fur
• One female Shih Tzu/terrier mix with dirty fur
• One female Shih Tzu with dirty fur
• One male cockatoo with dirty fur
• One male dog with white dirty fur
• One male hound with dirty fur
• One female shepherd with tan/white with dirty fur
• One female husky/shepherd mix with white brown dirty fur
• One female terrier/Yorkie mix with black and brown with dirty fur
• One male dog with black and white with dirty fur
• One unknown breed, gender and color dog

According to the report, it took authorities approximately six and a half hours to clear the scene.

All the pets that were found inside the home were taken to the Palm Valley Animal Society, where they were later fostered and transported to rescue groups.

The women were arraigned April 1 and their bonds were set at $188,000 each.

ValleyCentral digital executive producer Steven Masso contributed to this story.