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Ohio Man Arrested After Puppy Found Abandoned and Tied in Drawstring Bag at Local Park

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Ohio Man Arrested After Puppy Found Abandoned and Tied in Drawstring Bag at Local Park


An Ohio man has been arrested on animal cruelty charges after a puppy was found “tied up” in a drawstring bag at a local park in April.

Harold Dean Lilly of Middletown was charged with second-degree misdemeanors — cruelty to a companion animal and abandoning animals — on Friday, May 3, per a Facebook post from the Butler County Sheriff’s Office.

His arrest comes more than a week after a puppy was found “tied up in a bag and abandoned” on April 24 at 700 Joe Nuxhall Boulevard in Hamilton, the office said in the post.

The Butler County dog wardens then took the dog to the local Animal Friends Humane Society, which updated its Facebook followers about the pup’s plight soon after he was discovered.

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As the organization shared, the 2- to 3-month-old dog was located in a “closed drawstring bag” in a Hamilton park, and they have since begun referring to the animal as Ryder.

Ryder, the puppy who was found abandoned in an Ohio park.

credit: Animal Friends Humane Society/Facebook


“Yesterday on intake, he was not acting like a normal puppy. He was lethargic and weak. While we accounted for his traumatic experience, we also had to rule out sicknesses. He tested negative for parvo and was vaccinated and dewormed. We then let him rest and regain his strength and stability, under the watchful eye of our medical team,” Animal Friends wrote of Ryder on Facebook.

“Today, Ryder was alert, curious and ready to eat! We appreciate everyone’s support for the little guy already and we hope to update with every step of Ryder’s journey,” the organization continued.

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After the puppy was discovered in L.J. Smith Park last month, Sheriff Richard K. Jones went live on Facebook with dog warden Elizabeth Burkett and they revealed that the bag Ryder was found in was “drawn tight” so that the puppy would “not get out of the sack.”

“I assume somebody put it out there to die and be done with the dog,” Jones said.

Burkett added that she was dispatched to the park after an employee there said she “had a very hard time” untying the dog.

“When I arrived on scene the dog looked very defeated, overall seems healthy by appearance, just seems very defeated right now,” she recalled.

Harold Dean Lilly.
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Butler County Sheriff’s Office


On April 27, Animal Friends noted that Ryder was “improving every day” and had been “up moving around his cage, wiggling his little butt and crying for attention” since being found days earlier.

“We have received A LOT of interest in lil Ryder. While we know he is adorable, he is still a part of an ongoing cruelty investigation,” the shelter said at the time, prior to Lilly’s arrest. “The sheriff’s office has received many tips and are following up on them all. We are uncertain when or if he will become available. Ryder’s well being and the investigation come first.”

Per the Butler County Sheriff’s Office, Lilly is awaiting his appearance in Hamilton Municipal Court.



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Ohio

Four arrested, 16 children removed from southeast Ohio home

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Four arrested, 16 children removed from southeast Ohio home


UPDATE 6/30/26 @ 6:30 p.m.

VINTON COUNTY, Ohio (WSAZ) – Four people are in custody Tuesday after a search found 16 children inside a home in the Hamden area of Vinton County, officials said during a news conference.

“This is pure evil what we saw down here today,” said Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson, who described it as one of the worst scenes he has ever seen.

It happened in the 100 block of Ohmer Street.

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Two children had to be life-flighted to trauma centers, and the victims are being treated at hospitals throughout Ohio.

Their ages range from one and a half to 18 years old.

“Lives were in danger,” officials said during the news conference, saying it has been a long-term investigation.

They said there is a secondary investigation underway at the property.

The suspects are set to be arraigned at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in Vinton County Common Pleas Court.

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The Ohio Attorney General’s Office, the Vinton County Sheriff’s Office, the Vinton County Prosecutor’s Office and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation are among the investigators.

We have a crew at the scene working to get more details. Keep checking the WSAZ app for the latest.

ORIGINAL STORY

VINTON COUNTY, Ohio (WSAZ) – A news conference is scheduled Tuesday evening about a search warrant that was executed at a home in the Hamden area of Vinton County.

Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson’s office made that announcement, saying the news conference is scheduled at 6 p.m. in McArthur, Ohio.

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Along with Wilson, Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain, Vinton County Prosecutor William Archer and members of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation are set to attend the news conference.

The search warrant was executed at a home along Ohmer Street, with a heavy law enforcement presence reported throughout the day.

Additional details are unavailable now, but we have a crew headed to the scene.

Keep checking the WSAZ app for the latest.

Copyright 2026 WSAZ. All rights reserved.

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Central Ohio under extreme heat warning as heat index over 105 expected

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Central Ohio under extreme heat warning as heat index over 105 expected


Central Ohio is under an extreme heat warning starting at noon due to dangerously hot conditions.

The National Weather Service in Wilmington issued the extreme heat warning from noon June 30 to 8 p.m. July 2 in central and south central Ohio as well as parts of Kentucky. The heat index will rise to about 105 degrees, the weather service said.

On June 30, there will be sunny skies and a high near 95 degrees in Columbus, according to a forecast by the weather service. The heat index will reach about 106 degrees.

Columbus will see a high of 98 both July 1 and July 2, with a heat index as high as 106 on July 2, the weather service said.

People should drink plenty of fluids, stay in air conditioned rooms and out of the sun and check on their relatives and neighbors.

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People should not leave young children and pets in unattended vehicles because car interiors will reach lethal temperatures in minutes, the weather service said.

Cooling centers will open June 30, and the city has waived bus fares and public pool entry fees during the heat wave.

Public safety and breaking news reporter Bailey Gallion can be reached at bagallion@dispatch.com



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2 found dead in vehicle in Ohio park, police say

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2 found dead in vehicle in Ohio park, police say


Two people were found dead in a vehicle at a park in North Canton, Ohio, authorities said. 

The North Canton Police Department said in a news release on Facebook that officers were called to Eastwoods Park around 11 a.m. on Sunday for reports of a suspicious vehicle. When officers arrived, they found a Honda with its engine running and two unresponsive people inside. 

The two people, a 24-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman, were pronounced dead at the scene. They have not been identified as of Monday night. 

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Police said the preliminary findings show carbon monoxide levels in the vehicle were at levels exceeding what is considered safe. The North Canton Fire Department responded to the scene to help confirm the findings. 

“At this time, there are no signs of foul play and no indication of violence or struggle associated with this incident,” North Canton police said in the news release.

The Stark County Coroner’s Office will determine the cause and manner of death for the two people. No other information was released by law enforcement. 

“This remains an active investigation, and no further information is available at this time,” the news release said. 

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