All About Animals Suspect Arrested After Police Tip

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A tipster help police solved the All About Animals case, which left three dogs dead and 13 dogs injured.

Macon Police held a news conference today, to release more information surrounding the All About Animals incident.

All About Animals is a dog shelter, located at 101 Riverside Road, in Macon

Macon police say on Oct. 17, before the animal shelter opened 36-year-old Crystal Gale Fessler broke into All About Animals and released all of the dogs from their cages. Fessler is charged with one count of Criminal Trespass and 13 counts of Cruelty to Animals.

“The way we got to Ms. Fessler is from Crimestopper tips that came in on Oct. 22,” said Macon Police Lt. David Freeland. “The tipster gave information that he was at the Marathon Gas station.”

Freeland said the tipster spoke with Fessler at the Marathon gas station, which is less than a mile away from the animal shelter.

“The same day of the release of the animals or the morning of, a white female was the description of the suspect and that she gave information that she had just released some animals, and that she was injured due to that incident.”

Police say Fessler, who was on probation at the time of the incident, told the tipster she was bitten on her arm by one of the dogs.

“Later, probably within a few weeks past before another phone call came in about the suspect being down at the Otis Redding Park,” continued Freeland. “At that point, our on call investigator went down to make contact with her, and was able to get some information from her.

Freeland said it was the lead investigator in the case, who was able to get more details from Fessler.

“Investigator Grubbs brought her back to our office and was able to talk to her and get a statement from her and at that point is when we made the [arrest,]” said Freeland.

Police say they are not looking to make additional arrest in the All About Animals case.

“We believe Ms. Fessler acted alone,” said Alex Grubbs, lead investigator of the case.

More than ten thousand dollars was offered in reward money, leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for the crime at the animal shelter. Five thousand dollars was offered by the National Humane Society and Five thousand dollars was offered by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). There was also a crimestoppers reward offered as well.

Police declined to comment about Fessler’s mental state during the incident.

At the time of the All About Animals incident, Fessler was out on probation which stemmed from an Aug. 8,  arrest for a criminal tresspass family violence charge.

Amanda Reed, a shelter volunteer says one of the dogs, Orson, injured during the incident is recovering well, but questions Fessler’s motive.

“We just really want to know why,” said Reed. “I’m sure the police have already asked that question and no, they haven’t released it to us yet. We’re really just waiting to know what the reason was, that she felt the need to let our dogs go.”

She syas things are slowly returning backl to normal at the shelter, which is now equipped with security cameras. She believes Fessler would have benefitted from the shelter, rather than causing deatjh and chaos.

“The dogs that she let out that were injured and were lost, were dogs that if she would have come to volunteer would have smothered her with kisses,” added Reed.