Rhode Island
GoLocalProv | News | A RI Couple is the Victim of 37 Counts of Animal Cruelty and Is “Devastated”
Saturday, May 20, 2023
PHOTO: Foster Police Facebook
Two elected officials in Rhode Island were the victims of at least 37 counts of animal cruelty this week — and now are seeking justice.
Foster Town Council member Heidi Rogers and her husband State Senator Gordon Rogers, who own the Stone House Motor Inn on Danielson Pike, said they awoke Thursday morning this week to find their beloved koi pond teeming with dead fish.
Heidi Rogers spoke with GoLocal about what had taken place, and said that a now former long-term “guest” has been arrested for poisoning the fish.
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“He’d been with us for six years,” said Rogers, of suspect Jeffrey Gronksi. “He had started accumulating junk [outside his unit] — signs, tables, and bird feeders, which attract rodents. He was told by our manager he couldn’t have all of this stuff, and the feeders had to come down.”
“We had no clue that he did anything until the following morning, when our manager went to feed the fish, and noticed the pond was green with floating fish. I knew something was wrong,” said Rogers. “We went through our cameras and saw the fountains turned off at 1 in the morning, because the system was clogged with dead fish.”
“We saw on the video [Gronski] going out with the bucket. It was plant fertilizer, which caused a huge algae bloom. The fish all suffocated,” said Rogers.
Some of the nearly 50 fish of the family’s beloved pond that were removed — and buried. PHOTO: Rogers
Dealing With Loss
Rogers said her family is “devastated” by the loss, which totals 50 fish including 18 large koi.
Foster police confirmed with GoLocal on Saturday that Gronski had been arrested and charged.
“I’m not sure that he will face jail time — that’s up to the judge,” said Rogers.
On Friday, Gordon Rogers removed and buried the dead fish.
“It was at least $15,000 worth of fish and 15 years,” said Heidi Rogers, who noted that until this week, they had only lost one koi fish – which can live anywhere from 40 years to over a hundred.
“We knew all the fish and had our favorite ones,” said Rogers, of the pond that has now been drained. “If he doesn’t face jail time, I want the felony to stick, because that means he can’t own animals for 15 years. More than money, I want him to pay.”
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