Miranda Turman

Name:
Turman, Miranda Lucille

Date of Booking:
09/04/2025

Reason(s) For Booking:
CRUELTY TO ANIMALS – 11 Counts

Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]

On September 3, 2025, at approximately 1430 hours, I responded to [REDACTED BY AGENCY] in reference to an animal welfare check.

Prior to responding, I received a phone call from Sgt. Heather Savage of the Criminal Investigations Division, who informed me that she had spoken to Animal Control. They had received a tip that the residence was in deplorable condition, possibly with multiple animals and a nonverbal autistic child living inside.

I responded to the location with Officer Ward and an Animal Control officer. Upon arrival, we knocked on the door in an attempt to make contact, but received no response. I observed the driveway to have items on it and in the grass. The fenced yard was in disarray, with the grass inside the fenced area appearing overgrown, exceeding five feet in height. Additionally, numerous household items, garbage, and flies were present throughout the yard and surrounding the residence, along with an uncovered bucket of dog food.

As we were preparing to leave the property due to no contact, a white Honda Accord [REDACTED BY AGENCY] pulled into the driveway, and a white female, later identified as Miranda Turman, exited the vehicle. I asked Ms. Turman if she resided at the location, and she said that she did. She stated that the home belongs to her mother-in-law, [REDACTED BY AGENCY] but she and her husband live there.

I advised Ms. Turman that we were conducting a welfare check following a concerned citizen’s report involving both animals and possibly a child. She clarified that no children reside at the home, but her 24-year-old nonverbal autistic step daughter, [REDACTED BY AGENCY] does visit occasionally. Ms. Turman stated that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] lives full-time with her grandmother [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and had not been at the house since July.

Ms. Turman explained that she had traveled to Raleigh, North Carolina, last Wednesday to perform in a dog show. She returned home around midnight on Sunday (08/31), and discovered ankle-deep water in the home due to a burst pipe. She stated the flooding caused the circuit breaker to trip, resulting in a loss of air conditioning and creating a very humid environment that contributed to mold and mildew forming inside the house.

I asked for permission to enter and inspect the home, which she granted. Upon entering the home, there was a strong foul odor both outside and inside the residence. We were greeted by multiple dogs, including two French Bulldogs and a Golden Retriever. Feces were observed throughout the floors and furniture, and the house was in general disarray. Mold and mildew were visible on the walls, ceilings, and counters.

Inside the master bedroom, we observed a young Golden Retriever inside a cage. In the bathroom of the same bedroom, an older Golden Retriever (reported to be 15 years old) was lying on the floor. The older dog was alert but not able to move. Ms. Turman said the dog suffers from severe arthritis and is unable to move, but she has a veterinary appointment scheduled for Friday at [REDACTED BY AGENCY] Vet clinic, with [REDACTED BY AGENCY] to determine whether the dog needs to be euthanized.

In a corner of the dining room, two Pit Bulls were inside two separate dog cages. There were a total of 7 dogs, 4 cats, and a rabbit, at the residence.

Another room appeared to be empty except for a large hole in the ceiling and mildew on the wall. Another bedroom contained feces throughout and a chewed-up mattress. Ms. Turman stated that the Pit Bulls had chewed the mattress and that was why the child had not been at the home since July.

Throughout the home, I had to step over numerous items, including dog feces, to move between rooms. The kitchen was full of clutter, fruit flies, and gnats, with mildew throughout the cabinets and countertops. Although the dogs appeared to be physically healthy, the living conditions were deplorable. Ms. Turman acknowledged the condition and said it was to the pipe burst. She stated she is waiting for State Farm to handle the repairs and cleanup.

Ms. Turman said she works as a nurse at the McIntosh County Sheriff’s Department, and her husband is employed at [REDACTED BY AGENCY].

After walking through with Animal Control, we left the residence. I followed up with Sgt. Savage of the Criminal Investigations Division to discuss possible animal cruelty charges and the need for a referral to Adult Protective Services (APS). This was recommended to ensure the safety and welfare of [REDACTED BY AGENCY] who, due to her severe autism and inability to care for herself, may be at risk if exposed to such living conditions. I completed the report with APS, Sgt. Savage handled the charges for Cruelty to Animals.

[End of Narrative]