Cops: Woman Neglected Birds that Died

A Cartersville woman is in jail in connection with the deaths of two exotic birds, valued at a collective $3,200, and on an accusation she stole valuables from her parents.

Sheriff Clark Millsap said in a press release that Caylin Leeann Dorch, 25, was arrested Monday following an investigation of the November incident. She is charged with two counts of theft by taking and two counts of aggravated cruelty to animals.

investigators say Dorch served as caretaker of her parents’ Emerson home while they were away. They say she was responsible for the birds, a 19-year-old Congo African gray and a 8-year-old Green Cheek Conure, but neglected to feed them and provide other care, and as a result both died.

In addition to allegedly contributing to the birds' deaths, Dorch is suspected of stealing a number of items from the home and later selling the valuables at area pawn shops.

She is being held on a $10,000 bond.