Brick Hoarding Case: Prosecutor Says Women Demanded Dogs From Shelter, Violated Orders

BRICK, NJ — The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office has filed a motion seeking to revoke the pretrial release of two women charged in the animal hoarding case in Brick Township, after the two showed up at one of the county's shelters demanding return of their dogs.

Aimee J. Lonczak, 49, and Michele Nycz, 58, who are charged with animal cruelty and child endangerment after 180 dogs and cats were removed from Nycz's Arrowhead Park Drive home on Dec. 2 and 3, went to the Southern Ocean County Animal Shelter in Stafford Township on Thursday and demanded the return of seven dogs, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said Friday.

They had Lonczak's 16-year-old daughter with them at the time, Billhimer said.

The actions are violations of the pretrial release conditions set by Superior Court Judge Wendel E. Daniels at their Dec. 8 detention hearing, Billhimer said.

"As such, we have filed motions to revoke the pretrial release of both Lonczak and Nycz," he said. "Based on their actions yesterday, we will be requesting that these defendants be detained pending trial."

Daniels set the following conditions for Lonczak and Nycz when they were released Dec. 8: they were to have no contact with animals; they were not to return to the house without written approval from the Court; Lonczak was to have no contact with her 16-year-old daughter unless authorized by the Department of Child Protection and Permanency and the Family Part of the Superior Court; and Nycz have no contact with the girl. Read more: Women Released To Await Trial In Brick Animal Hoarding Case

Lonczak and Nycz signed over their legal claims to the animals after the Dec. 8 hearing.

On Jan. 10, during a case status hearing, Nycz attempted to have the no-contact order with girl lifted; that request was denied by Superior Court Judge Linda G. Baxter, the prosecutor's office said.

Billhimer said management of the Southern Ocean County Animal Shelter contacted Brick police on Thursday and reported that Lonczak and Nycz had been at the shelter demanding the return of their dogs. They also had Lonczak’s daughter with them, he said.

The shelter ultimately refused to turn over the dogs, Billhimer said.

The motions to revoke their pretrial release are pending a hearing date in Ocean County Superior Court, the prosecutor's office said.

Lonczak and Nycz had requested the return of seven dogs — five that Lonczak said were hers, and two that Nycz said were her personal pets. Baxter had set a court date of Jan. 24 on that request, but that hearing had been postponed to Feb. 21. It's not clear when the hearing was postponed or at whose request. Read more: Women In Brick Hoarding Case Want 7 'Personal' Dogs Returned: Reports

The prosecutor's office and the Ocean County Health Department — which has been caring for the animals since Dec. 3 — both oppose the return.

"It is the State’s position that neither of these two defendants should ever be able to possess a pet again," Billhimer said.

"The Ocean County Board of Health also strongly opposes the return of any dogs to these two women," said Daniel Regenye, the public health coordinator for the health department.

There were 129 dogs and 44 cats removed from the house, and six dogs and one cat removed from a vehicle parked in the driveway, Billhimer said in Friday's news release. That is the first time authorities have said there were animals living in a vehicle.

The house, which had feces and urine 3 and 4 inches deep throughout and had fumes so strong that people had to put on hazmat suits to enter and retrieve the animals, was condemned by Brick Township code enforcement.

The child endangerment charge resulted because Lonczak and Nycz had the 16-year-old living with them in those uninhabitable conditions.

Full coverage:

• Brick Animal Hoarding Case: Questions And Answers
• 180 Dogs, Cats Removed From Brick Home, 2 Arrested: Police
• Dogs, Cats From Brick 'Puppy Mill' Under Ocean County's Care
• How Rescue Founder Hid Brick Animal Hoarding: Fosters, Adopters Speak
• 'Desperate Need': Manahawkin Animal Shelter Asks For Coats, Cash
• 'Nightmare': Popcorn Park Officer Shares Hoarder House Experience
• Hundreds Of Pets In Need Following Brick Hoarder Rescue: How To Help
• Women Released To Await Trial In Brick Animal Hoarding Case
• Animals From Brick Hoarding Turned Over To Ocean County
• Missing-Pet Pleas Pour In To Police In Brick Hoarding Case
• Collie Taken By Brick Hoarders Reunited With Family
• Bloodhound Found In Brick Hoarding Case Reunited With Tennessee Family
• Women In Brick Hoarding Case Want 7 'Personal' Dogs Returned: Reports

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