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Chandler woman accused of animal abuse re-arrested on new charges

April McLaughlin is shown from the neck up. She is wearing a dark-colored top with her hair down around her shoulders, tucked behind her ears. She is looking straight forward but not directly at the camera, pressing her lips together in a line.
Maricopa County Sheriff's Office
Court documents show that April McLaughlin, also known as Skyler McKinley, is accused of neglect, abandonment, and cruel mistreatment of animals.

More than 50 dogs were removed from April McLaughlin’s Chandler home last year. After further review of evidence, she was re-arrested early this week on charges related to animal cruelty and abuse.

Court documents show that McLaughlin, also known as Skyler McKinley, is accused of neglect, abandonment, and cruel mistreatment of animals.

Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell announced the charges Wednesday afternoon.

“She is now facing a 24-count indictment that includes 8 felony charges and 16 Class 1 misdemeanors,” said Mitchell.

That’s on top of the 77 misdemeanor charges McLaughlin already faces in Chandler city court.

“But it appeared to us that more needed to be done,” Mitchell said.

According to Mitchell, her office has been in communication with Chandler Police, and new information was shared that allowed the new charges to go forward.

Kirsten Dorman is a field correspondent at KJZZ. Born and raised in New Jersey, Dorman fell in love with audio storytelling as a freshman at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication in 2019.