Full Notification

*****UPDATE****08/21/2017

On 08/21/2017 Vonna Hughes failed to appear in court for arraignment and a felony bench warrant was issued for her arrest.

On 08/21/2017 at approximately 3:30 pm an officer from the Angels Camp Police Department arrested Vonna Hughes for the felony warrant. Hughes was booked in to the Calaveras County Jail.


****UPDATE****08/08/2017

On 07/28/17 Angels Camp PD staff took Cici's remains to a Tuolumne County veterinarian for x-rays, to assist with determining the cause of death. Those x-rays and photographs of the remains were provided to the veterinarian in Davis, CA, that was scheduled to perform the necropsy. After veterinarian staff reviewed the photos and x-rays, it was determined that a necropsy would not yield any positive results.

The investigating officer for this case met with the district attorney's office to review the case, and it is moving forward. A preliminary hearing involving the primary suspect, Hughes, will be scheduled at a future date.

Michael Rutt is no longer being sought for questioning in this case.

Additional investigation is still being completed, and we will release more information as it is available.

****UPDATE****07/24/2017

CORRECTION FROM OUR UPDATE ON 07/23/17: On 07/22/17 canines Coco and Casper were reunited with the owner/victim, and Cici is the name of the third missing dog.

On 07-24-17, at approximately 8:25 AM, the Angels Camp Police Department was contacted by a local utility company employee that wishes to remain anonymous at this time. He advised that he located what he believed to be the remains of the third missing dog from this case, and offered to take police to the location of the remains. The reporting party advised that he initially found the remains on either July 3rd or 4th, 2017, and did not realize they were associated with this case until seeing one of the missing dog flyers that was posted at the Sierra Hills Market in Murphys, over the last weekend.

An officer followed the reporting party to a location in the 900 block of Crestview Drive in Murphys, where canine remains were recovered and delivered to Calaveras County Animal Services. Animal Services reached out to the previous caregiver, Joyce Techel from JT Kennels, who confirmed that the remains are those of Cici, the third dog belonging to the victim. The victim was also notified. Animal Services has arranged for necropsy that will occur in the next few days, at a location in Davis, CA, to attempt to determine the cause or method of the dog's death.

There is no additional information to release at this time, we will provide updates as they are available.

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****UPDATE****07/23/2017

On 07/22/17 the Angels Camp Police Department was contacted by a Calaveras County Animal Services employee, who believed that one of the missing dogs, Casper, may be in their custody. The dog in their custody was confirmed to be Casper, after the victim was notified and positively identified him. Further investigation revealed that a second dog owned by the victim, Cici, may have also recently been in the custody of animal services, and arrangements were made by animal services to have that dog transported back to their facility so the victim could positively identify him. The victim positively identified that dog as his missing dog, Cici, and as of this report two of the three dogs have been reunited with the victim.

Efforts by animal services are currently underway to attempt to locate the third missing dog, Coco, and the focus of that effort is in the Pennsylvania Gulch Road area of Murphys, where the first two dogs were recovered by animal services. Flyers with a picture of Coco are being circulated in the area by animal services staff members.

As of this report the exact date(s) that Casper and Cici were recovered by animal services is not known. The Angels Camp Police Department is waiting for an official report from Calaveras County Animal Services to determine that information.

Another person of interest has been identified in the investigation, Michael Rutt, a 42-year-old Calaveras County resident that was allegedly present when the initial plans were made at the Pet Bath House to dispose of the dogs. In addition to questioning Rutt related to this case, Rutt is also wanted on other charges related to failing to report to probation upon release from prison, under the state “Post-Release Community Supervision,” or PRCS program; part of the state prison realignment program under AB 109. If you see Rutt or know of his location, please contact police immediately via 911. Do not attempt to approach or detain him.

This investigation is ongoing and as more information becomes available, we will continue to provide updates.

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****UPDATE**** 07/13/2017

On July 13, 2017 at approximately 9:15 am, Patti Guy turned herself in to the Angels Camp Police Department.

Guy was interviewed again and based upon the second interview and additional investigative leads that resulted from the interview, the decision was made not to arrest her at this time.

Until the investigation is complete and the status of the three missing dogs is confirmed, Guy will remain a suspect in this case. The investigation remains active and ongoing, and no further information will be released at this time.

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****UPDATE**** 07/11/2017

The Angels Camp Police Department has identified 60 year old Angels Camp resident, Patti Guy, as being involved in the illegal killing of 3 dogs at the Pet Bath House. Guy has been uncooperative in the investigation and is currently wanted for the following charges:

(3) counts of 597(a) PC - Killing, Maiming, Abusing Animals
(3) counts of 487g PC - Stealing, Taking, Defrauding Animals
(1) count of 182(a)(1) PC - Conspiracy

If you see Guy, please do not approach or detain her. Report her whereabouts to the Angels Camp Police Department by calling (209) 736-2567.

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On 07/04/17 the Angels Camp PD became aware of an incident that occurred at the "Pet Bath House" in Angels Camp. An owner of three dogs that were boarded there reported that he believed that his dogs were illegally killed, while they were boarded at the business. The victim related the following information.

After the Butte Fire the victim was displaced when he lost his home. He boarded his three dogs at a facility in Valley Springs, where they remained for approximately 18 months. He visited them on a regular basis and was advised recently, in mid-June, that he would have to find another facility to board them, as they were showing signs of kennel stress. They were temporarily housed with County Animal Services until they were eventually placed at the "Pet Bath House" on 06/21/17. The victim paid for the stay in advance. On 06/29/17 the victim received a telephone call from the owner of the "Pet Bath House," Hughes, who advised that the dogs got loose while in her care and became involved in a dog fight with another boarded dog. Hughes asked the victim to compensate her for the related vet bill as a result of the dog fight that occurred, which the victim did. On 07/01/17 the victim was advised that a second incident occurred, where the victim's dogs reportedly became involved in another dog fight, causing injuries to other dogs and Hughes as well. On 07/02/17 Hughes notified the victim that his three dogs were "put down," due to their aggressive behavior, and indicated to the victim that the police department was involved in the matter. It should be noted that the police department became aware of this incident on 07/04/17, when the victim reported to police that his dogs were illegally "put down."

Once the information was reported to the Angels Camp Police, an investigation began, and it was discovered that the owner of the "Pet Bath House," Hughes, provided false information to County Animal Services regarding the status of the dogs and the severity of her alleged injuries. Hughes initially reported to County Animal Services that the dogs in question had been relinquished to the care and custody of their owner, and she was deceptive in reporting the severity of the injuries she sustained while breaking up one of the dog fights.

Hughes initially advised police that the dogs had been turned loose. It was later discovered that she made arrangements for a third party to "take care" of the dogs. The third party involved has been identified, and so far is uncooperative in this investigation. To date it is unknown the status or location of the dogs, and it has not been confirmed if they are alive or dead. The investigating officer believes that the three dogs have been feloniously killed, and is attempting to gather information to confirm this.

On 07/08/17, Vonna Hughes, a 68 year old Angels Camp resident, was arrested and booked into the Calaveras County Jail on multiple charges related to animal cruelty, animal neglect, theft of an animal and conspiracy. The investigation is ongoing.

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