Scottsdale Police have arrested 35-year-old Lester Paul Richmond and 32-year-old Heather Auditor for their involvement in an animal cruelty case that left a husky puppy dead and discarded in a Scottsdale alley near Miller Road and Lantham Street in late June 2023.
The pair were arrested on Thursday during a traffic stop near Miller Road and Pierce Street. Detectives later served a search warrant at the residence. During the service of the warrant, detectives found additional evidence related to the case.
Scottsdale Police started the investigation on June 27 after the puppy’s body was found by someone walking through the alley. The puppy appeared to have had its mouth taped shut. In the following days, investigators conducted an extensive investigation that included canvassing the neighborhood, interviewing neighbors, and looking for surveillance cameras that might have captured the area where the puppy was found.
Scottsdale detectives discovered surveillance video showing Richmond’s vehicle in the alley during the time frame the puppy was left there. Detectives were able to identify him as the registered owner. After identifying Richmond as a potential lead, investigators were able to obtain video surveillance of Richmond and Auditor talking about getting rid of the puppy.
Richmond was booked into the Maricopa County jail for one kind of Animal Cruelty.
Auditor was also booked for one count of Animal Cruelty, and one count of Hindering Prosecution.