Columbia Dead Animal Case Goes to Trial

A Columbia woman accused of being responsible for that police found in a townhome in January is on trial this week, with jury selection proceeding Wednesday.

Elizabeth Martha Lindenau, 40, of the 9400 block of Hundred Drums Row, is charged with 60 counts of animal cruelty, the Howard County State’s Attorney’s office said.

Lindenau has been associated with The Bailey Foundation, a bird rescue organization, according to Explore Howard. Calls to the Foundation have not been returned.

She originally , but some were dropped in advance of the trial, officials said.

She has pleaded not guilty.

Howard County police and animal control officers responded to the 9600 block of Lambeth Court on Jan. 16 following a report from a property manager of odor coming from a townhouse. Officers discovered four live animals in poor condition and 40 dead animals in a grisly scene that made headlines across Maryland.

, they found 19 dead animals in a freezer, including birds, rabbits, a guinea pig and a hermit crab, according to police.

Officers found 21 dead animals, including birds, cats, rabbits and a snake, in cages and other areas of the home.

Investigators determined the animals had no food or water in their cages, nor was it available to animals that roamed the house, according to police. There was  in the home, but it was not accessible to the animals.

The heat and power in the house had been turned off, according to a statement.

According to neighbors, no one had been seen at the house for more than a week before police arrived.

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