Woman Accused Of Starving 5 Dogs To Death Turns Down Plea Deal

FAIRFIELD, CT — A woman accused of starving five dogs to death in Fairfield declined a plea deal Thursday and asked for a trial by judge, according to the Connecticut Post.

Heidi E. Lueders is charged with five felony counts of maliciously killing an animal and one count of first-degree criminal property damage. She was offered two-and-a-half years in prison under the plea bargain, the Post reported, and could face up to 30 years behind bars if convicted in a trial.

Two years ago, Lueders declined a similar deal for a two-and-a-half-year sentence if she agreed to plead guilty to misdemeanor charges, News12 reported at the time.

Lueders is the former president of Bully Breed Rescue Inc.

In November 2018, Fairfield police found the remains of five dogs, who were affiliated with the rescue and had been under Lueders' care, in crates inside a home on Prince Street. She had told rescue members and volunteers she sent four of the dogs to a sanctuary and the fifth to a foster home.

Lueders is currently free on a $250,000 bond, according to court records.

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