USA: Man arrested after police found 183 dead animals in fridge

Police in Mohave County, Arizona (USA), have arrested Michael Patrick Torland, 43, after agents found 183 dead animals inside a refrigerator in his garage on 3rd.

According to the police, officers went to the scene after a woman complained. The witness told the officers that she negotiated with Torland to have him raise her snakes and then return them.

However, months later, she was unable to contact the man again to retrieve the snakes. Also according to the woman, the landlord informed her that Torland and his wife, Brooklyn Beck, had left the state, and when they were cleaning up the property, a refrigerator full of dead animals was found in the garage.

Police said the refrigerator contained dogs, turtles, lizards, birds, snakes, mice, rats and rabbits. Many animals appear to have been frozen alive due to the locations of the carcasses.

On Wednesday (13), customers were notified that Torland was home and drove to the scene. When asked about the animals, Torland admitted putting some in the freezer when they were still alive. The man was arrested and taken to the Mojave County Adult Detention Center in Kingman.

He must answer at least 94 counts of crimes of cruelty to animals. Police are still looking for Brooklyn Beck to testify about the case, which is still under investigation.