The teenager informed deputies that his mother, Jessica Copeland, had left on July 21 for a birthday trip to Las Vegas, leaving him in the care of occasional visitors who brought food.
PALATKA, Florida – A 37-year-old woman was arrested early Tuesday morning on charges of child neglect and animal cruelty after authorities discovered her teenage child and seven dogs living in deplorable conditions at a Putnam County home while she was away on a two-week vacation in Las Vegas.
The incident unfolded Monday evening when Putnam County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a welfare check request at a residence on Songbird Lane in Palatka. The call came from an out-of-state family member concerned about the teenager’s well-being.
Upon arrival, deputies spoke with an adult at the property who claimed to be “cleaning” in preparation for the homeowner’s return. The teenager also emerged and assured deputies that everything was fine, leading them to clear the call without entering the home due to lack of probable cause.
Later that evening, a second family member from Marion County contacted authorities, providing video evidence of animal abuse inside the residence. The relative met with deputies and showed footage depicting three severely emaciated dogs. The family member also alleged there was no running water or food in the house—details not mentioned in the initial welfare check call.
Deputies returned to the scene, accompanied by the sheriff’s office agriculture detective. The adult from the earlier visit had departed, but the teenager granted permission to enter. Inside, authorities encountered horrific living conditions: layers of animal feces covering the floors, garbage and debris scattered throughout, and multiple emaciated dogs without access to food or water.
The teenager informed deputies that his mother, Jessica Copeland, had left on July 21 for a birthday trip to Las Vegas, leaving him in the care of occasional visitors who brought food. A total of seven dogs were found in the home. Two were confined in a bedroom with approximately four inches of feces and no sustenance. A third was caged, severely underweight, and without food or water. The remaining four roamed the living room amid feces, with inadequate provisions; water bowls contained floating insects.
When questioned about the duration of these conditions, the teenager stated they had persisted “for years,” as Copeland allegedly refused to clean or maintain the home.
“The depravity of this situation is both heartbreaking and infuriating,” said Putnam County Sheriff H.D. ‘Gator’ DeLoach in a statement.
“A mother made the conscious choice to abandon her own child in a filth-ridden home, surrounded by the stench of animal feces and suffering of neglected animals while she indulged on a two-week birthday trip to Las Vegas. This wasn’t neglect. This was deliberate cruelty, both to her child and to the animals she left behind.”
Copeland returned from her vacation early Tuesday morning while deputies were still on site assisting animal control with removing the dogs. She was arrested and booked into the Putnam County Jail on one count of child neglect, three felony counts of animal neglect, and four misdemeanor counts of animal neglect. She is being held on a $36,000 bond.
“Let me be clear, our community will not tolerate this level of selfish disregard for human and animal life. She now has time for reflection,” DeLoach added.
The dogs were voluntarily surrendered to Putnam County Animal Services, where they will undergo rehabilitation before becoming available for adoption.
Due to the recent influx of animals, including these seven, officials are seeking donations of linens, wet and dry dog, cat, and kitten food, collars, leashes, treats, and toys. For donation inquiries, contact Deputy County Administrator Julianne Young at julianne.young@putnam-fl.gov.
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