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Crime & Safety

Forked River Woman Indicted in Dog's Death

Megan Otte case remains in county's hands

A Forked River woman whom police say behind that starved to death when she moved out of a home has been indicted on a count of animal cruelty.

Megan Otte, 21, was indicted on a count of third-degree animal cruelty by an Ocean County grand jury, sitting in Toms River, on Thursday in the death of Ruger, the mixed breed dog found dead in a dog crate in an empty house in June.

Otte by Lacey police after Ruger's body was discovered in the crate by police investigating a suspicious odor at a Pensacola Road address. An investigation by Officer Paul Sullivan and Officer Paul Schlossbach of the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals found that Otte moved from the Pensacola Road home and left Ruger, a mixed breed, alive in the cage. Sometime after she moved, Ruger died, police said.

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Otte posted bail — $7,500 with no 10 percent option — through a bondsman on Monday, July 23.

In the days following Otte's arrest, animal activists took it upon themselves to encourage Ocean County Executive Assistant Prosecutor Robert Scott, who is assigned to the case, to give Otte the maximum sentence. A Facebook Page and a petition were started. The Facebook page currently has 624 likes while the petition has 3,624 signatures.

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