New Hampshire Pair Wanted On 14 Animal Cruelty Charges

MANCHESTER, NH — Police in New Hampshire’s largest city are asking for the public’s help finding a man and woman accused of abandoning 14 cats inside a foreclosed Manchester home.

Police issued an alert for the arrest of Meghan Williams, 42, and Robert Gerhold, 59, Thursday after an investigation that started in October 2022. Last year, police were sent to Seames Drive for a report of abandoned animals in a house. The house was in foreclosure, according to Heather Hamel, a public information officer for the Manchester Police Department.

“A neighbor told police that he had not seen the owner in at least two weeks and could see multiple cats through a window,” she said. “Responding officers could smell a strong odor of ammonia coming through an open window. Inside they could see furniture flipped over, torn up, and covered in feces.”

At least one dead cat was also seen in the corner of the room. Police also saw “several extremely thin cats” on a couch, Hamel added.

“They did not look well and appeared to be missing fur,” she said. “Police found no food or water left out for the animals.”

Across several days, the police’s animal control department located and removed 10 cats suffering from serious health issues. Four were found dead inside the home, a report said.

Hamel said investigators learned the home was owned by Williams and Gerhold, and they were living there at the time. Warrants have been issued for their arrests.

Gerhold, according to superior court records, was charged in late 2018 with criminal mischief and criminal threatening, insurance fraud and unsworn falsification, and resisting arrest or detention charges after three different incidents in Manchester. In July 2019, he pleaded guilty to the resisting arrest charge. Gerhold pleaded guilty to the falsification charge in July 2020. All the other charges were nolle prossed.

Gerhold was also involved in a civil suit against Dunkin Donuts in Hillsborough County Superior Court North in May 2006, court records showed.

Anyone with information regarding the pair’s whereabouts should call the Manchester Police Department at 603-668-8711. Anonymous calls can also be made to the Manchester Crimeline at 603-624-4040.

Have you got a news tip? Please send it to tony.schinella@patch.com. View videos on Tony Schinella's YouTube.com channel or Rumble.com channel.