Jessica Hoff, 47, is currently facing charges of criminal negligence along with over 50 counts of aggravated animal cruelty following her arrest on Friday, March 21. She is accused of leaving her elderly mother, who suffers from dementia, alone with numerous loose and caged dogs. This arrest is linked to the death of her mother.
LaVonne Hoff, a 76-year-old woman with dementia, passed away in February while residing in Colorado City with her daughter. Jessica Hoff has been taken into custody in relation to her mother’s death, as stated in a press release from the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident occurred in February when deputies responded to a report of an unconscious woman at the home shared by the mother and daughter. Upon arrival on February 3, they pronounced LaVonne Hoff dead at the scene and discovered multiple loose dogs inside the residence, along with approximately two dozen dogs and seven birds confined in cages.
An autopsy later determined that LaVonne Hoff died from injuries sustained in a dog attack. The sheriff’s office noted that she required 24-hour care due to her dementia and that Jessica Hoff had allegedly left her mother unattended to run errands about 25 miles away in Pueblo.
In addition to the conditions at their home, investigators found more dogs at another property owned by Jessica in Colorado City, where they discovered 54 dogs and seven birds. The animals were found to be living in poor conditions, leading to Jessica being charged with 54 counts of aggravated animal cruelty, in addition to the charge of criminal negligence related to her mother’s death, as she was considered an at-risk individual needing constant care.
Deputies reported that the animals were in distressing health conditions.
