Ashland woman accused of stabbing cat to death pleads not guilty to indictment

ASHLAND — A woman accused of stabbing her cat to death pleaded not guilty Friday during a hearing on an indictment filed May 10.

April Parks, 44, of Ashland, faces one count of fifth-degree animal cruelty stemming from an April 30 incident.

Ashland County Prosecutor Chris Tunnell, during a hearing following the initial complaint, said sheriff's deputies responded to a 911 call at Parks' home. He said callers reported that Parks was going through “some sort of mental health crisis.”

Tunnell said when deputies arrived, they followed a trail of blood into the kitchen and found a black cat under a towel that had been stabbed multiple times.

“In fact, a chef's knife had been inserted into his skull through his mouth,” Tunnell said.

Ashland County Magistrate Emily Bates set personal recognizance and bond at $50,000. Parks has since posted bond.

Other bail requirements included obtaining a mental health evaluation, refraining from alcohol and drugs and not owning or caring for animals.

On May 10, she was charged based on the original complaint, according to court records. She appeared in a virtual hearing Friday with her court-appointed attorney, Jaceda Blazef.

Parks pleaded not guilty through Blazef, who asked Bates to maintain his original bail conditions.

“She complies with the bond requirements,” Blazef said of his client.

Blazef was not immediately available for comment.

Bates scheduled a preliminary hearing for June 28 and set the start of a jury trial for August 6.

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