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of Agriculture Inspector Corey Cravey visited her property and found animals to be living in conditions which required him by law to make a report and give O’Neal time to rectify the situation before charges were filed. Upon his visits to the property last September and November, Cravey discovered that the animals’ conditions had improved, which led him to close the case.

An anonymous report was filed to the Georgia Department of Agriculture on January 25; this report stated that the animals were living in terrible conditions and that the location should be investigated. Upon arrival, investigators found 1 horse and 14 cows and bulls appearing to be starving and in poor health. O’Neal was not home when investigators returned to the site, so the animals were given hay and fresh water until further action was decided.

Photos were taken of these animals and submitted to the Department of Agriculture veterinary staff, who determined that the animals should be seized. Cravey alerted Toombs County Sheriff Jordan Kight to the incident, which prompted the evidence to be submitted to a Toombs County Magistrate Judge, who issued a warrant for O’Neal’s arrest.

The animals were seized and taken to a ranch in the region, where two of the cattle later died. The cause of their death has not been determined. The remainder of the animals are still residing at the rescue ranch.

O’Neal turned herself in to the Toombs County Detention Center on Friday, February 14, but later bonded out through a property bond. O’Neal will now face a state court judge to determine if the animals are returned to her care; if so, she will be responsible for the costs of the animals care and treatment while they have been held in rescue.