Man’s role in menagerie investigated
He illegally kept animals in 1999, 2000
By LAURIA LYNCH-GERMAN
[email protected]
Posted: May 6, 2004
Germantown – Authorities said Thursday they are investigating what role, if any, a man twice charged with illegally keeping exotic animals played in amassing a menagerie of about 200 animals discovered Tuesday in an apartment.
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5/5/04: Menagerie of 200 live animals found in apartment
Police Chief Peter Hoell said the man, John D. Walters, was in the apartment when police arrived around 10 p.m. Tuesday to investigate a report of an acrid odor and noises coming from the two-bedroom apartment.
Jamie L. Verburgt, identified as the resident of the apartment, was issued two citations by the state Department of Natural Resources in connection with possession of state game animals out of season. Several dead animals were found in or near the apartment.
“Walters was there and he along with the woman were very cooperative, explaining what the various creatures and animals were,” Hoell said. “She is taking full responsibility for the animals, however.”
Hoell also said Verburgt told officers that bones from rotting animals in the apartment were to be used by a family member to make crafts.
Attempts to reach Verburgt were unsuccessful Thursday.
Walters, 26, was first cited by Brown Deer police in 1999 after more than two dozen snakes and numerous other animals from frogs to cougar cubs were found in his apartment.
In 2000, Walters was charged with intentional mistreatment of animals after authorities raided his Greenfield apartment and found a cougar cub, a black leopard cub, chinchillas, prairie dogs and snakes.
He pleaded guilty to that charge and was placed on seven years of probation. He was ordered not to possess exotic animals while he was on probation, according to court records.
Verburgt has no criminal record.
Hoell said Germantown officers arrived to find a gruesome scene at the building.
“They found animals all over the apartment, carcasses is some places, and so they were very cautious when the opened up doors or containers,” Hoell said. “The smell in the basement was really horrendous. It was difficult to take.”
More than 70 ducks were found in a basement area of the apartment, and five more were found paddling in the apartment’s bathtub. Verburgt obtained the ducklings in January, and family members were planning to eat them, Hoell said.
Hoell said both Verburgt and Walters “felt they had everything in control and the reptiles were properly contained.”
Police are continuing the investigation and expect to request charges from the Washington County district attorney next week. Federal authorities also are investigating the case to determine how some of the exotic species that were found had been obtained.
Peter Maller of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this report.
From the May 7, 2004 editions of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
200 animals in a small apartment…… 