STEPHANIE MURPHY FROM LIVERPOOL ESCAPES PRISON AFTER LEAVING DOG TO DIE IN ABANDONED HOUSE

Stephanie Murphy, a 35-year-old woman from West Derby, Liverpool, has been at the center of a heartbreaking case involving the neglect and subsequent death of her pet dog. The incident unfolded at her residence, an abandoned house in Liverpool, where she deliberately left her female boxer-type dog, named Cassie, to suffer a slow and agonizing death through starvation.

On September 20, 2023, authorities were alerted to the tragic scene after a call was made to the police by staff members at Murphy’s children’s school. The school staff expressed serious concerns about the safety and well-being of Murphy’s children, as they had not attended school for two consecutive days. Responding officers arrived at the scene and discovered the lifeless body of Cassie lying in the hallway of the dilapidated house. The dog was found to be extremely emaciated, with her body showing clear signs of prolonged starvation. She was not breathing when the police arrived, and no other persons were present inside the property.

Subsequent investigations and a post-mortem examination confirmed that Cassie had been starved to death. An officer who attended the scene described the house as being in a state of severe disrepair, with no food left out for the dog. The dog’s bowl was found to be empty, further indicating neglect. During police interviews, Murphy claimed that she did not intend to harm her dog. When questioned about her awareness that abandoning Cassie could lead to her death, Murphy admitted, “Yes, but it wasn’t intentional. It wasn’t on purpose.”

Prosecutor Tara Thomas outlined the case to the court, emphasizing that the dog had endured “prolonged suffering which had resulted in death.” She highlighted that Murphy’s actions were aggravated by her return to the house after the dog’s condition had visibly deteriorated. Despite seeing the state of Cassie, Murphy chose not to feed her or seek help, allowing her to continue suffering until her death.

Murphy ultimately pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal. During the hearing, Judge Paul Healey remarked on the severity of the neglect, stating, “It must have taken days, weeks, for the dog to become emaciated and eventually die. The dog died as a result of the neglect caused by you. It went on for a period of weeks where you could have taken action to alleviate the suffering of the dog, but you chose not to.”

In sentencing, Murphy was spared a prison term but received a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. Additionally, she was ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid work and was banned from owning animals for a period of six years. The case has drawn significant attention to animal welfare issues in Liverpool and highlights the importance of accountability in cases of neglect and cruelty.