Arizona man arrested after 183 dead animals found in freezer

Animal cruelty charges have been filed against an Arizona man after 183 dead animals were discovered in a freezer, including several that were probably frozen while alive, according to officials.

The animals were discovered in a garage freezer on April 3 after a woman reported that Michael Patrick Turland, 43, hadn’t returned snakes she’d lent him for breeding, according to a statement released by the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday.

Turland had previously lived in Golden Valley, a small hamlet in far western Arizona, where the garage freezer was found.

Dogs, turtles, lizards, birds, snakes, mice, rats, and bunnies were among the frozen animals, according to the statement.

“Several of the animals appeared to have been frozen alive due to their body positioning.”

The home’s owner reportedly discovered the frozen animals while cleaning after Turland and his wife vacated the property. The owner then contacted the woman who notified the sheriff’s office, the statement said.

Turland was arrested at the home Wednesday when deputies were told he had returned to the property, the office said.

“When interviewed, Turland eventually admitted to placing some of the animals in the freezer when they were still alive,” the statement said.