The man Thurston County Animal Control workers say is responsible for the worst animal abuse they’ve ever seen pleaded not guilty to 12 counts of animal cruelty on Monday.
David Christopher Williford appeared emotionless before the judge.
What he’s accused of makes veterinarian Dr Victoria Smith shudder.
“It was terrible,” Smith said. “It gave me nightmares for a couple of nights.”
Video shows animal control officers raiding his basement earlier this month. It captures cages full of animal carcasses and skulls, freshly killed rabbits and guinea pigs.
“There was a lot of animals killed in that property,” Thurston County Animal Services investigator Erika Johnson said. “There was too many to count.”
The animals they found alive were dying of starvation, living in their own waste.
Dr. Smith inspected and performed necropsies on the animals.
“The six guinea pigs all died of just violent blunt force trauma, fractured skulls,” Smith explained. “He could have done it with his boot or his fist, or thrown against a wall. It's hard to say.”
She said the animals were also strangled.
One rabbit was found headless.
Williford's roommate, William Hart, tipped authorities off.
“I have witnessed more than I thought I would ever have to witness in my life,” Hart said.
Williford told authorities he was slaughtering the animals for food.
Officials don't buy that.
“Every single one of them was underweight and dehydrated. Some were emaciated with absolutely no body fat,” Smith said.
Williford's attorney asked that he be released without bail since he does not have a criminal record.
The judge found the allegations so disturbing, he ordered Williford held on $150,000 bail.