Woman in Cat Abuse Case Is a Fugitive
A woman who faces felony charges for keeping hundreds of cats in a Petaluma home is a fugitive, authorities said.
Marilyn Barletta, 62, unexpectedly left the Sonoma County courthouse before being arraigned Wednesday on new charges of animal cruelty after still more cats were found at the house.
Barletta is sought on a $50,000 arrest warrant.
A retired real estate agent, she was freed on $10,000 bail after being arrested in May, when 196 live cats were pulled from a home filled with excrement and urine. Also found were six dead cats, some of which had been cannibalized.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
