Woman arrested after rabbit found in U-Haul van with human feces inside

9-year-old girl also found barefoot, dirty, deputies say

DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. – A South Florida woman was arrested Sunday after witnesses saw a rabbit trapped inside a U-Haul van that had human feces inside, authorities said.

According to an arrest report, Broward sheriff's deputies were called Sunday to the 100 block of South Powerline Road in Deerfield Beach, where they approached the van that had been parked in the area for several hours.

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Witnesses told deputies that they saw a rabbit running around the van with the windows rolled up.

Deputies said they confronted Julie Anne Beers, 46, of Boca Raton, who was with a 9-year-old girl.

Deputies said the girl looked dirty and was barefooted with her feet on the front passenger side floorboard, which was wet and covered in garbage.

There were also cigarette ashes throughout the area where the girl was sitting, the report said.

Deputies said the girl told them that she had not showered in more than a week, had only a can of SpaghtettiOs to eat that day and had missed school for several days.

Authorities said Beers told them that she had a full-time job, but had been evicted from her home a week ago and rented to U-Haul van to move her family to Arizona.

Deputies said Beers said the rabbit was fine when they asked why it was inside the van with no fresh air, water or food.

Deputies said the human feces was located in an area where the child had several personal items stored.

Beers was arrested on charges of child neglect without great bodily harm and abandonment of an animal.


About the Author:

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.