Maryland woman pleads guilty in Eden animal abuse case

An Eden, Maryland woman pleaded guilty to 26 counts of animal abuse after dozens of dogs were found malnourished, living in deplorable conditions.

70-year-old Susan Marie Murphy was sentenced to three years suspended all but one year. She will serve sixty 60 days in the Wicomico County Detention Center and then ten months on home detention.

Following her release, Murphy will be placed on three years supervised probation with special conditions. She will be restricted from getting any new animals during her probation and required to seek mental health counseling.

In April 2016, the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office and Wicomico County Animal Control found dozens of dogs living in extreme conditions, malnourished and neglected, on Murphy’s property.

Wicomico County State’s Attorney Jamie Dykes, commended Deputy State’s Attorney
Billy McDermott and Sr. Assistant State’s Attorney Diane Karsnitz for their thorough and dedicated prosecution, as well as the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office and Animal Control for their investigation.

State’s Attorney Dykes also thanked the professionals and volunteers who committed to providing the long term care that so many of these dogs required to avoid being euthanized.