Diamond, WV – The Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association late Friday, October 31, 2025, after reports of loose and potentially neglected pigs near 331 Rockwood Avenue in Diamond.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, deputies previously warned the resident, Melinda Mourey, for livestock trespassing under West Virginia State Code 19-18-3. When deputies revisited the property on November 1, they discovered about 20 pigs secured in a fenced area with food, water, and shelter. None of the animals appeared neglected.
Investigators said Mourey, who reported being separated from her husband, was working with a licensed livestock rescue group to rehome the pigs. Deputies verified the rescue’s involvement, and Mourey cooperated with the investigation. She received a criminal citation for a second offense of livestock trespassing, a non-jailable misdemeanor. Her husband, George Mourey, was issued a first-offense warning.
The Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office is coordinating with the county’s prosecuting attorney, the Humane Association, the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, and an animal rescue group to assist in relocating the pigs.
Deputies reported finding no evidence of animal cruelty or neglect during the investigation.
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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