Fugitive In Major Bucks Co. Animal Abuse Case Returns From Belize In Handcuffs

NEWTOWN, PA ? A Wrightstown woman charged with what the Bucks County SPCA calls the largest case of animal cruelty in county history is back on U.S. soil after being deported from Belize.

Abigail Tuttle O'Keefe, the owner of Narrow Way Farm on Worthington Mill Road, was transported back to the United States on Friday by the U.S. Marshals Eastern Pennsylvania Violent Crimes Task Force and turned over to the Newtown Township Police Department around 10:30 p.m. to face charges in Bucks County.

In December 2024, Nicole Thompson, a humane officer with the Bucks County SPCA, filed more than 100 counts of animal cruelty against O'Keefe in Newtown District Court. An arrest warrant was subsequently issued on Jan. 2 for O'Keefe, who was in Belize.

O'Keefe is being charged with two felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animals for causing the death of two animals, 21 third-degree misdemeanor counts of animal neglect (failure to provide veterinary care), and 125 summary counts of animal neglect (unsanitary conditions, failure to provide water, or failure to provide veterinary care).

According to authorities, O'Keefe was arrested in Benque Viejo, Belize, on April 25 for possession of a firearm. The U.S. State Department notified the U.S. Marshals Service that O?Keeffe was in custody and inquired if they would be willing to return her to the United States.

The U.S. Marshals Service brings Abigail Tuttle O'Keefe back to the U.S. to face animal cruelty charges in Bucks County.

The U.S. Marshals Service coordinated the deportation process with the Bucks County District Attorney?s Office and on Sept. 18 O?Keefe?s criminal case in Belize was settled. O?Keeffe was then turned over to the U.S. Marshals Service and escorted from Belmopan, Belize, to Philadelphia.

The investigation included the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force in Philadelphia, U.S. Marshals Office of International Operations, U.S. Department of State, Bucks County District Attorney?s Office, Bucks County Sheriff?s Office, INTERPOL Washington, and law enforcement in Belize.

?While the U.S. Marshals Service remains steadfast in its mission to capture violent fugitives, after learning of the heinous animal cruelty allegations against Ms. O?Keefe, we were pleased to assist the Bucks County D.A.?s Office in facilitating her extradition from Belize,? said Eric Gartner, U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

According to court documents, Thompson launched an animal cruelty investigation at the farm on August 5, 2024, after receiving information that the owner had left the country with no plans to return, "leaving animals in poor physical and sanitary condition" at the farm.

After learning that a sheep was found dead at the farm, Thompson secured a search warrant, which was executed on August 7 with the assistance of the Newtown Township Police Department.

A goat from the farm. (Bucks County SPCA)

At the farm, which had advertised ?sip and snuggle? afternoons cuddling with baby goats, Thompson said she found animals living in unsanitary conditions, dead and dying animals, and heard reports from caretakers of young animals dying over the past four months.

?This was an exceptional case in terms of the number of animals, severity of their suffering, and the interagency cooperation required to bring Ms. O?Keeffe back to the United States to face charges and gain justice for the animals,? said Thompson.