Kokomo Woman with Prior Animal Abuse Charges Arrested Again, Found with Animals in Fountain Square

A Kokomo woman with a prior animal abuse conviction was arrested again after authorities found her in possession of 12 animals without access to food or water. Krystal Scott, who was previously sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for animal crushing in 2021, was cited on June 21 for care and treatment violations.

According to the police report by Indianapolis Animal Care Services, authorities found Scott and two others with a U-Haul van parked on East Washington Street. The van contained 12 dogs and cats inside, forced to stand in their own waste without food or water.

The report states that the passenger side window of the van was cracked, and the officer smelled "decomposing material which appeared to smell like a deceased animal." However, officers did not find evidence of deceased animals during the search.

Animal control officers removed all the animals and issued 12 citations to Scott and the others. At this time, no criminal charges have been filed, according to court records.

"They seemed to be acting suspiciously while I was trying to confirm ownership of the animal before returning it to them," Fountain Square resident Kyle Christie said in the report, describing his interaction with Scott and the others when they showed up at his home claiming a lost German Shepherd was theirs.

Christie's report also included doorbell footage from June 18 showing the German Shepherd appearing nervous and not responding to its name. The video also captured Scott becoming combative and exhibiting nervous body language, such as fidgeting.

Authorities were informed about the animals by Christie after he received a video on June 21 from a resident of a nearby homeless camp of a deceased, mutilated dog in a trash bag. The animal's body was near where Scott's tent was set up.

Christie contacted the police for assistance with the matter, and authorities have made plans to contact Scott's probation officer regarding this case.