MILAN TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WOIO) — Authorities have reported that two children living under extremely poor conditions and exposed to narcotics visibly present were deeply upset when they had to listen to their mother’s long-term partner bludgeon their dog, named Hank, using a hammer. The situation was verified by the Erie County Sheriff’s Office.
“It’s nauseating. Absolutely nauseating,” remarked Erie County Sheriff Paul Sigsworth.
According to ECSO, the man attempted to flee but was discovered concealed in the river near his residence, grasping a tree branch.
According to ECSO and court documents, this unsettling event occurred shortly after her mother was placed on probation. The reason being, a sizable crystalline substance was discovered inside her purse when she was stopped for trespassing, with her partner at the helm driving without a valid license.
HARROWING CALL FOR HELP
The deputies responded to the 2600 block of Alpine Trail in Milan Township regarding a disturbance on Monday evening, May 5, as reported by the ECSO.
The person who called informed the dispatcher that they heard a man kill at least one puppy, along with “a lot of screaming from family members” as a consequence, according to ECSO.
ECSO said deputies arrived to find a child outside the home “extremely distraught.”
The girl told ECSO that her mother’s live-in boyfriend had murdered her puppy and she subsequently fled the residence.
Number 19 learned that the puppy’s name was Hank.
The ECSO pinpointed Jimmy R. Wiggins, aged 46, as the stepfather and Gretchen L. Howard, who is 42 years old, as the mother.
According to ECSO, Wiggins had resided there for approximately five months.
‘UNINHABITABLE’ & ‘UNINTELLIGIBLY’
More deputy sheriffs reached the location and observed that the house was “a total mess, filled with a strong odor of animal excrement/urine and was essentially unlivable because of the awful state,” according to ECSO’s description.
The mother emerged from a room and began speaking with the deputies present, “largely incoherently,” according to ECSO, indicating her speech was difficult to comprehend.
The ECSO stated that the deputies instructed her multiple times to leave the house prior to her compliance.
The deputies conducted a security check at the residence to locate Wiggins, according to ECSO statements. During this search, they discovered “a significant amount of drugs, particularly methamphetamine along with related items visible,” and these substances were subsequently collected as part of the investigation.
MOTHER ARRESTED
ECSO reported that deputies noticed a man-door leading to the bedroom along with a dresser that had been shifted away from the wall, which appeared to be how Wiggins managed to avoid being caught.
According to ECSO, deputies thought Howard was not willing to cooperate until Wiggins had managed to get away.
Howard verified owning two Red Nose Pit Bulls but either could not or chose not to offer deputies additional details about the event, according to ECSO.
Nevertheless, the sheriff’s office was able to locate just one of the dogs, as reported by ECSO.
Number 19 News discovered that the other dog’s name is Mud.
ECSO verified that she was taken into custody and transported to prison.
SCENE OF THE CRIME
The deputy’s account of the event described below may be upsetting. Reader discretion is recommended.
ECSO stated that both children reported Wiggins claiming he intended to strangle Hank.
They heard Hank crying just prior to what ECSO described as an “impact.”
“What one child recounted was Jimmy threatening to choke Hank, followed by hearing Hank yell like a puppy would yelp, and they also heard a thud,” Sigsworth revealed.
The children reported that they last saw Hank deceased inside the bathroom, according to ECSO, however, deputies noticed that he was not there anymore.
ECSO stated that deputies discovered a blood-stained hammer on the ground and confiscated it as part of the evidence.
“Puppy had vanished when the deputies entered, but the hammer was still present,” Sigsworth said.
One child informed the sheriff’s deputies that Wiggins cleaned the blood from his hands using a bottle of hydrogen peroxide, according to what ECSO stated; this item was also discovered near the sink.
WHERE’S WIGGINS?
The ECSO stated that deputies promptly conducted an extensive search of the nearby regions in an attempt to locate Wiggins.
They noticed footsteps in the damp grass and thought he had fled into the forest adjacent to his house, according to ECSO.
The deputies tracked the footprints, leading to and ending at a body of water, as reported by ECSO.
Two deputy sheriffs subsequently heard the noise of branches snapping and a abrupt splash, according to ECSO.
ECSO subsequently dispatched an airborne drone as the Milan Township Fire Department arrived at the location to assist in locating or rescuing Wiggins.
A thorough search allowed emergency personnel to locate an individual who appeared to be partly submerged in the water and attempting to remain hidden near a close-by slope, according to ECSO’s description.
The deputies moved closer and discovered Wiggins in the water grasping the tree roots, subsequently taking him into custody, according to ECSO.
North Central EMS along with MTFD provided him with medical care and transported him to Fisher-Titus Medical Center, according to ECSO.
Later, Wiggins was set free and then transported to jail, as reported by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
ECSO stated that he claimed ignorance about a second dog.
THE CHARGES
The ECSO stated that Gretchen Howard-Simmons faced charges including:
- Endangering children – classified as a felony of the third degree
- Interfering with governmental operations – classified as a Class B misdemeanor
ECSO mentioned that Jimmy Wiggins faced charges for:
- Endangering children – classified as a felony of the third degree
- Altering evidence — classified as a Class C felony
- Restrictions regarding service pets – categorized as a felony of the fifth degree
- Interfering with governmental operations – classified as a Class B misdemeanor
On Wednesday, May 7, Wiggins appeared before Judge Carl Kamm at the Erie County Municipal Court for an arraignment.
The court documents indicated that his bond was established at fifty thousand dollars.
The initial court appearance is scheduled for 9 a.m. on May 16.
THE CHILDREN
The deputies contacted Erie County Job and Family Services for assistance with the children when one of them was placed into protective custody, according to the ECSO statement.
ECSO verified that plans had been put in place for the children to be permanently transferred into the custody of ECJFS.
The children were transported to Fisher-Titus Medical Center for additional precautionary medical attention by North Central EMS, according to ECSO.
THE PUPPIES
ECSO verified that deputies did not discover Hank’s remains.
“The unfortunate puppy he allegedly killed; we were never able to locate its remains,” states Sheriff Sigsworth.
Nevertheless, ECSO confirmed that Mud has already been moved to a caring household.
ECSO posted this image featuring Mud alongside 19 News.
EARLIER THAT WEEK
19 News found out that this was not the first time the couple had encountered drugs and law enforcement within the same week.
When a deputy from the Erie County Sheriff’s Office initiated a traffic stop during the weekend, Wiggins was driving a 2009 Chevrolet TK with Howard seated next to him in the front passenger seat, according to ECSO statements.
When questioned about their presence at the Norfolk Southern Railroad track access point on Mason Road close to River Road, the deputy was informed they were examining “trash heaps,” according to information provided by the ESCO.
“The deputy mentioned that the couple was drenched in sweat even though the outdoor temperature was only 50 degrees.”
The duo denied possessing any illicit drugs, according to ECSO, but Wiggins confessed that he didn’t have a legitimate driver’s license.
Howard acknowledged that she was aware Wiggins did not possess a legitimate driver’s license; however, she asserted that he “wasn’t planning to go very far,” according to ECSO.
During the vehicle search, a glass pipe containing “a large amount of crystallized material” was found inside Howard’s purse, according to ECSO statements. The item was confiscated as part of the investigation.
ECSO stated that Howard’s vehicle was subsequently towed because Wiggins was allowed to operate it without possessing a valid license.
CHARGES FOR THAT INCIDENT
Norfolk Southern was informed about the incident and asked the authorities to press criminal charges against the duo for trespassing, as reported by ECSO.
The ECSO stated that Gretchen Howard faced charges including:
- Misdemeanor criminal trespassing – first degree
- Improper delegation of vehicle access
When this weekend’s incident occurred, Howard had no previous drug-related convictions, which meant the offense level wasn’t increased, as stated by ECSO.
Howard appeared before the Erie Municipal Court early on May 5 regarding this incident, the very same day the puppy met its demise, according to official records.
According to court documents, she was convicted and ordered to pay a fine totaling $350 along with $200 in filing fees and $100 for probation costs.
The court documents revealed that Judge Carl Kamm ordered her to serve 30 days in jail, suspending an additional 30 days, and put her on probation for a year.
ECSO mentioned that Jimmy Wiggins faced charges for:
- Misdemeanor for criminal trespassing – first degree
- No operator’s license
Wiggins was set to appear before the judge at 9 a.m. on May 12 at the Erie County Municipal Court.
The crime of criminal trespass was upgraded to a first-degree misdemeanor because it occurred on railway land, according to ECSO.
Pending the outcome of a chemical analysis, additional fees will be determined, as stated by ECSO.
This is an evolving story. Head back to 19 News for more updates.
