Bucks County farm owner captured in Belize after fleeing to avoid animal cruelty charges.

A Bucks County woman is facing multiple charges of animal neglect and cruelty following her recent extradition from Belize to the United States. Abigail Tuttle O’Keeffe, the former owner of Narrow Way Farm located in Newtown, left a significant number of sick and malnourished animals in appalling conditions on her 36-acre property. The U.S. Marshals Eastern Pennsylvania Violent Crimes Fugitive Task Force announced her return to the United States last week.

O’Keeffe had previously fled to Belize after authorities began investigating her animal care practices. In April, she was arrested in Belize on firearms possession charges. Once that matter was resolved, U.S. Marshals transported her to Philadelphia, where she was promptly handed over to Bucks County officials.

The charges against O’Keeffe are extensive, totaling nearly 150 counts, which officials have described as one of the most egregious cases of animal cruelty in the county’s history. Among the charges are two felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animals and 21 misdemeanor counts of animal neglect. Additionally, she faces over 100 summary offense counts of animal neglect.

The investigation into O’Keeffe began in August of the previous year when authorities executed a search warrant at her farm. This operation resulted in the rescue of over 100 animals, including pigs, goats, and sheep that were discovered suffering from infections, parasites, and severe medical conditions. Reports indicate that a farm manager had alerted the Bucks County SPCA to a dead sheep found on the premises prior to the investigation. Tragically, during the investigative process, a severely malnourished goat died, and another required euthanasia after weeks of failed medical intervention.

Animal welfare advocates revealed that O’Keeffe had minimal experience in farming, managing the facility chaotically and often relying on local volunteers for basic care tasks. There were reports of persistent concerns raised by farm staff about the conditions of the animals, which were allegedly fed inadequate diets, further exacerbating their health issues.

Following the investigation, many animals from Narrow Way Farm have been adopted into new homes, while others remain in the care of the Bucks County SPCA. Charges against O’Keeffe were filed in January, but investigators were unsure of her whereabouts at the time. Following social media posts indicating her relocation to Belize, investigators feared she might not return to the U.S.

O’Keeffe was ultimately apprehended in Belize on April 25. Following her arrest, the U.S. Marshals Service collaborated with the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office to facilitate her deportation back to the United States. Presently, O’Keeffe is held at the Bucks County Correctional Facility on a 0,000 bail, with a pretrial hearing anticipated to take place in early October, as per court records.

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