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

In March 2025, a tragic case emerged involving Stephanie Murphy, a 35-year-old woman from West Derby, Liverpool, who was involved in the heartbreaking neglect and subsequent death of her family’s pet dog. The incident took place at an abandoned property in Liverpool, where Murphy had left her female boxer-type dog, named Cassie, to suffer a slow and agonizing death.

On September 20, 2023, authorities were alerted after staff from Murphy’s children’s school contacted the police, expressing concern over the children’s absence from school for two consecutive days. The school staff’s worries prompted a police response to Murphy’s residence, which was an unkempt, neglected house in Liverpool. Upon arrival, officers discovered the deceased dog lying in the hallway of the property. The scene was distressing: the dog was extremely emaciated, unresponsive, and clearly had been dead for some time. No other individuals were present inside the house at the time of the police visit.

Subsequent investigations revealed that the dog had been starved to death. A post-mortem examination confirmed that Cassie had suffered from prolonged starvation, leading to her death. Police officers who inspected the property noted that the house was in poor condition, with no food left out for the dog, and the dog’s bowl was found to be empty. During police interviews, Murphy claimed she did not intend to harm her pet. When questioned about whether she knew the dog would die if left in such conditions, she responded, “Yes, but it wasn’t intentional. It wasn’t on purpose.”

Prosecutor Tara Thomas outlined the case in court, emphasizing that the dog had endured “prolonged suffering which had resulted in death.” She pointed out 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 the animal, Murphy chose not to intervene or provide care, leaving the dog to continue suffering.

Murphy ultimately pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal. The court heard that the neglect had persisted over a period of weeks, during which the dog’s condition worsened significantly. Judge Paul Healey commented on the case, 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. She was also ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid work and was banned from owning animals for six years. The case highlights the tragic consequences of neglect and the importance of animal welfare, especially in cases where vulnerable animals are left to suffer in silence.