Marlborough man held without bail after nearly 100 dead animals found at Sturbridge property, officials say

The dead animals included chickens, geese, pigs, ducks, and rabbits, according to authorities.

Sturbridge Police Department

A Marlborough man is facing charges after 96 dead animals were discovered last week at a property he was renting in Sturbridge, officials say.

Andrew Sebastiano was arraigned in Dudley District Court on Wednesday on 96 charges of animal cruelty, subsequent offense, and 96 charges of animal cruelty by custodian, subsequent offense, according to a joint statement from MSPCA Law Enforcement and Sturbridge police.

The dead animals included chickens, geese, pigs, ducks, and rabbits, authorities said.

Sebastiano allegedly left the property in February, according to MSPCA Law Enforcement Director Chris Schindler.

“This was a devastating scene, and we wish that we had been able to intercede in the weeks before these animals perished, but, unfortunately, the call came too late,” Schindler said in the statement.

Authorities seized one adult dog, which is now in MSPCA-Angell’s care, when Sebastiano was arrested on Tuesday, according to the statement.

Sebastiano was held without bail, pending a dangerousness hearing scheduled for April 1, officials said.

“This is an extremely disturbing case of animal cruelty, none like I have seen in my career,” Sturbridge Police Chief Earl Dessert said in the statement. “The sheer number of animals that suffered and perished is truly heartbreaking.”

Sebastiano previously pleaded guilty to animal cruelty charges in 2021 and was sentenced to probation, according to Schindler.

Lawmakers have proposed legislation, supported by MSPCA-Angell, that would ban people convicted of animal cruelty crimes from owning an animal for at least five years.

“Our current legal framework for addressing animal cruelty in Massachusetts is long overdue for additional tools, beyond the current statutes,” Schindler said in the statement. “Not all offenses are or should be treated equally, but that’s often what happens in our current system.”