Husband Arraigned in Animal Cruelty Case

The husband of a woman found not guilty of causing the deaths of more than a dozen animals in an abandoned Columbia townhouse was arraigned in Howard County Circuit Court on Thursday.

Brady Decker, 39, testified during his wife's trial in Sept. that it was his responsibility to take care of the birds, cats and rabbits left at a townhouse on Lambeth Court.

Decker, of the 9400 block of Hundred Drums Row, was indicted on 93 counts of animal cruelty and other charges relating to the animals' deaths, according to court records.

During his wife's trial, Decker testified that he was taking care of the animals inside the couple's townhouse after his wife moved from Lambeth Court to Hundred Drums Row in April of 2011. But in December of 2011, after power and water had been cut off at the townhouse, he said he stopped going to the home after he found a beloved bird dead.

Decker testified that "he completely lost it." He said people had seen him walk up to the townhouse after the bird died, but did not enter.

In January of 2012, police found 19 animals dead in cages and around the house, as well as another 21 dead in the freezer. A veterinarian testified they died of emaciation, a lack of water.

"I had responsibility for those animals," said Decker during his wife's trial. "I thought I was capable of taking care of them."

Decker is scheduled to next appear at a motions hearing on Jan. 17 and his trial is scheduled to begin on Feb. 13, according to an article in Explore Howard.

Related Articles

• Husband: 'I Had Responsibility for Those Animals'
• Animal Cruelty Charges Dropped Against Columbia Woman
• Columbia Woman Not Guilty in Case of 40 Dead Animals

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