Lake City pair arrested on animal cruelty charges

Staff report

ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – Juan Jose Hoxit, 38, and Melissa Nicole Murphy, 41, both of Lake City, were arrested on September 26 and charged with felony animal cruelty on a 2022 warrant stemming from the discovery of numerous underfed animals at a property in the Graham area.

In July 2022, Alachua County Animal Services (ACAS) responded to a complaint of a foul odor, a large number of flies, and dead chickens in a coop at a property in the 9400 block of North CR 225. ACAS investigators reportedly captured 14 rats, three dogs, three kittens, six cats, a duck, and a parrot, and Florida Fish and Wildlife investigators reportedly removed two turtles, one degu, and one iguana.

All of the animals reportedly had a body score of 1-2 out of 5; all were reportedly underfed and had no access to food or fresh water. A cat was reportedly found in a crate inside a cabinet; the cat was reportedly paralyzed and had to be euthanized due to its poor condition.

Post Miranda, Hoxit reportedly said the cat wasn’t his and that he didn’t know how it got inside the residence; he also denied ownership of the crate. He said he and his family have not lived at the property for some time, but he frequently went there to water and feed the animals because the residence is not habitable. He reportedly said he did not have a key to the residence, so when he went there, he used a ladder to climb in the back window.

Post Miranda, Murphy reportedly said the cat was not hers and she did not know how the cat got there; she also said the crate was not hers. She also said the residence is uninhabitable, but she reportedly said it remains unlocked when nobody is there, so anybody could have put the cat inside the house.

An investigator reported that the house did not have running water or air conditioning, and it could reach very high temperatures in the summer.

The person who reported the odor told an investigator that he only saw people at the house at 10-day intervals.

Based on the cat being locked in the crate and suffering from lack of food, water, and fresh air, both defendants have been charged with felony animal cruelty.

Both defendants have also been charged with maintaining wildlife in an unsafe or sanitary condition, a misdemeanor.

The warrants for their arrests (issued in October 2022) recommended bail of $50,000, but both Hoxit and Murphy are being held on bail of $20,000 for the felony and $2,000 for the misdemeanor.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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