‘House of Horrors’ Found with 200 Animals and 95-Year-Old Woman

Authorities say they uncovered a nightmare inside a quiet Suffolk County home this week: more than 200 sick and starving animals caged in filth alongside a 95-year-old woman trapped in squalor.

Police stormed the Northport property Wednesday morning, arresting Samantha Boyd, 57, and her boyfriend Neal Weschler, 61. Investigators described the discovery as one of the worst hoarding cases they had ever seen.

“It was like stepping into a horror film,” Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina told reporters. “The level of neglect was unconscionable — the conditions were deplorable.”

Inside the home, officers said they found 206 animals crammed into rusty cages: cats, dogs, parrots, hedgehogs, chinchillas, and even squirrels. None had clean food or water. Many were forced to wallow in their own waste.

Among the chaos, police discovered a 95-year-old woman upstairs, trapped by mounds of garbage and unable to move freely. She was removed from the home and is now receiving care.

Animal rescue workers spent hours pulling cages labeled “EVIDENCE” out of the house, loading chickens, ferrets, and small dogs into transport vans.

Boyd — who was ironically a licensed wildlife rehabilitator — faces multiple counts of animal cruelty and a charge of endangering the welfare of a vulnerable elderly person. Weschler is also facing animal cruelty charges and is awaiting arraignment.

Boyd has pleaded not guilty and was released under probation supervision.

District Attorney Ray Tierney said the rescue operation was a joint effort. “This was a deeply distressing situation, but thanks to swift action, these animals are safe and receiving urgent veterinary care,” he said.

Wildlife advocates say the incident highlights gaping oversight failures.

“Wild animals belong in the wild, not being hoarded in residential homes,” said John Di Leonardo, Executive Director of Humane Long Island. “This was a travesty — and it shows why stronger safeguards are needed for licensed rehabilitators.”

Di Leonardo’s group will oversee the medical treatment and long-term placement of the animals, either in sanctuaries or back into the wild if they can survive on their own.

The Town of Huntington has taken responsibility for cleaning and repairing the property, which is riddled with building and fire code violations. Officials said the home was unsafe for both people and animals, and repairs will take months.

“This case is a wake-up call for the community,” one local resident told reporters. “No one had any idea what was happening inside that house. It’s heartbreaking.”