Bucks County woman arrested in Belize after more than 100 animal cruelty charges

(WPHL) — A woman facing dozens of animal cruelty charges in Pennsylvania is back in the United States after being arrested in Belize, officials announced on Monday.

Abigail O’Keeffe is accused of neglecting more than 100 animals and leaving them to die at the Narrow Way Farm in Newtown, Pennsylvania.

According to the U.S. Marshals Eastern Pennsylvania Violent Crimes Fugitive Task Force, O’Keeffe was charged in January and fled the country shortly after charges were filed. The Bucks County SPCA said that this incident is the largest case of farm animal cruelty in county history.

“This was an exceptional case in terms of the number of animals, severity of their suffering, and the interagency cooperation required to bring Ms. O’Keeffe back to the United States to face charges and gain justice for the animals,” said Nikki Thompson, Chief Humane Society Police Officer at Bucks County SPCA.

Officials said O’Keefe was arrested for possession of a firearm on April 25 in Benque Viejo, Belize. The deportation process began shortly after, with O’Keefe returning to the United States after her case in Belize was settled.

O’Keefe was turned over to the Newtown Township Police Department on Friday evening.