California woman who ran fake animal rescue left dogs to die in a hot car; freed by court without bail

Priscilla Martin, 33, pleaded not guilty to three felony counts of animal cruelty by a caretaker, 11 misdemeanour counts of animal cruelty by a caretaker, and one misdemeanour count of unlawfully disposing of a dead animal.

Martin was released without bail by Orange County Superior Court Commissioner Eric Isaac, despite prosecutors requesting $50,000 bail, on condition she has no access to animals.

On 4 July, Newport Beach police found 18 dogs locked in a hot car with no water, covered in faeces; 14 were in crates and several suffered heat distress.

Two six-week-old Golden Retriever puppies were found in critical condition from severe untreated intestinal parasites; one was euthanised and the other survived.

A dead dog linked to Martin was found after surveillance footage showed her removing its body from her vehicle; a post-mortem confirmed death by heat stroke from prolonged hot car exposure.