Woman Arrested On Numerous Animal Cruelty Charges

A 42-year-old Harwich woman faces numerous counts of animal cruelty after police discovered a gruesome scene at the barn where she was living in Harwich Tuesday.

Meredith Viprino was arraigned in Orleans District Court Wednesday morning on 15 felony counts of animal cruelty. She pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Police were called to the farm at 35 Chatham Rd. and arrived to discover a number of deceased animals in the barn, some of which had died apparently some time ago.

Viprino allegedly told police that she had stabbed and killed three sheep earlier in the day. Police investigated and discovered two sheep were dead, while a third was mortally wounded and ultimately needed to be euthanized by a veterinarian.

It is not clear why the animals had been killed. Police describe the scene as having been extremely gruesome. Because of their state of decomposition, it was unclear what species of animal many of the carcasses had been.

Cape and Islands District Attorney Rob Galibois said Wednesday that his office is investigating the matter for "a possible grand jury presentment."

This is a developing story.