Crime & Safety
Woman Charged With Leaving Dog to Die Awaits County's Investigation
Megan Otte of Forked River remains jailed while prosecutor investigates
The Forked River woman charged with animal cruelty after she allegedly left a dog to die in a home remains in jail while prosecutors consider her case.
after police investigating a suspicious odor at a Pensacola Road address discovered the dog, Ruger, dead inside a dog crate in the home.
Because Otte remains in jail, her arraignment will be held in Ocean County Superior Court, officials said. But when that arraignment might be remains uncertain. An employee in the Superior Court criminal division said Otte's case remains in the complaint stage. The prosecutor's office is investigating it to determine whether to prosecute in Superior Court or send the case back to Lacey's municipal Court.
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That process could take a couple of months, the employee said.
Otte has been charged with animal cruelty and abandonment and her bail was set at $7,500, no 10 percent option.
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An investigation by Officer Paul Sullivan and Officer Paul Schlossbach of 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.
Lacey Township Animal Control Officer Michael San Juan also assisted at the scene.
