Episode 4

full
Published on:

1st Sep 2025

Season One: State v. Steffen Baldwin / Episode 4 The Rise to Fame Part 1

The Animal Welfare Junction Season One: State v. Steffen Baldwin / Episode 4 The Rise to Fame Part 1

This episode is presented in two parts, both released simultaneously.

Investigators, witnesses and victims share their experiences as Steffen Baldwin rose to fame as an animal advocate.

This episode is available on YouTube by searching for the Animal Welfare Junction. YouTube episodes contain video and pictures of the case.

Transcript
Speaker:

Hon. Judge Daniel Hogan:

2

:

This is the case of the State of

Ohio versus Steffen Evan Baldwin.

3

:

It is case number 20 CR 99.

4

:

DrG: Hi, and welcome to the

Animal Welfare Junction.

5

:

This is your host, Dr.

6

:

G, and our music is written

and produced by Mike Sullivan.

7

:

This is Episode Four of our Season One

series, State versus Steffen Baldwin,

8

:

and it is titled The Rise to Fame.

9

:

Now, before we go on, I wanna

remind our audience that these

10

:

episodes contain elements of animal

cruelty and domestic violence.

11

:

So please take care of yourself and take

a pause if you find that we're sharing

12

:

something that is triggering to you.

13

:

In the next episodes, we're gonna

be sharing interviews with witnesses

14

:

and victims, information from other

sources, such as news and podcast,

15

:

and clips from the court hearings.

16

:

We hope to share information

that's going to help our audience

17

:

understand what Baldwin did, how

he got away with it for so long,

18

:

and how he was eventually stopped.

19

:

This is not only important for his victims

to get closure, but also to help those

20

:

who love and care for animals avoid a

situation like this from happening again.

21

:

So we are going to start with Detective

Jim Conroy and we will hear from

22

:

Steffen himself through a podcast

appearance he made in Getting Real with

23

:

Josh Boyer so that we can go back to

Steffen's beginnings in Animal Welfare

24

:

at the Union County Humane Society.

25

:

Det. Jim Conroy:

26

:

He applied to be the, uh,

Executive Director of the,

27

:

Union, County Humane Society.

28

:

And on his resume, he, he stated that

he worked with dogs for two years.

29

:

Steffen Baldwin: My dad's a

dog trainer first and foremost.

30

:

Uh, he has a, uh, a well

established business in Pasadena.

31

:

He's been doing this

since the:

32

:

Um, and uh, it's interesting because him

and I have similar, similar career paths.

33

:

We have a completely different methodology

when it comes to working with animals.

34

:

Det. Jim Conroy:

35

:

Now if anybody watched that Josh Boyer

podcast that Baldwin was on, that's on

36

:

YouTube, when he was in California in

that podcast, he admits to lying about

37

:

that, um, that it was only two years.

38

:

But he stated he worked with his father,

'cause his father, Howard Finkelstein,

39

:

has been in dog training his whole life

for 50 some years, and apparently did some

40

:

Hollywood dog training for Hollywood dogs.

41

:

Steffen Baldwin: So my dad's dog

trainer, I had the nonprofit experience.

42

:

They were hiring for a shelter director.

43

:

So I kind of played up my

experience with my dad.

44

:

I was like, oh yeah, my dad's trainer.

45

:

I didn't freaking know the guy

until like two years earlier,

46

:

but, you know, kind of, yeah.

47

:

And I did, I worked with him for

two years at his as facility,

48

:

but it was just two years.

49

:

It wasn't like a lifetime of it.

50

:

Uh, but because of my fundraising

experience, because of, uh, so

51

:

because of that, they gave me my

first job, uh, running a shelter.

52

:

So that was like 2008 was my first chance

actually working at an animal shelter.

53

:

It was a private humane society.

54

:

I did that until, uh, my divorce in

:

55

:

Yeah.

56

:

And then at that time I took on

another job at the Humane Society.

57

:

I was the shelter director,

which I love that.

58

:

I love that so much.

59

:

But they're also hiring for an

animal cruelty investigator.

60

:

Det. Jim Conroy:

61

:

But he hated his father and had

no relationship with his father.

62

:

But on his resume, when he got the

executive director job, he claimed that he

63

:

was an executive director at two places.

64

:

So Union County thinks he's an

executive director and he's worked

65

:

with dogs, great fit and they hire him.

66

:

Well, he was never an executive

director and he didn't work with

67

:

dogs 'cause he had no relationship

with his father at that time.

68

:

Mary Beth Brown: So, Mary Beth Brown,

I was Mary Beth Hall at the time, I was

69

:

the, uh, chief Union County dog warden.

70

:

I was also a humane agent for the

Humane Society of Delaware County.

71

:

And that was from 2007 to 2017.

72

:

I think Stefan was the

first director after Rachel.

73

:

So, you know, he was handed a Humane

Society that was run very well by

74

:

somebody who was very ethical and is

very, very devoted to the, to the field.

75

:

Dr. G:

76

:

There's not enough background check.

77

:

It's like people look for, for

a resume and then you read the

78

:

resume and take it as this is it.

79

:

Right?

80

:

Like whatever's in here must be true.

81

:

In Steffen's case, it didn't look

like they actually looked into

82

:

or called any of his references.

83

:

They just kinda went with, oh, he

says he's an executive director,

84

:

so obviously that must be it.

85

:

Mary Beth Brown: Exactly.

86

:

And he always put on a show, so like,

he talked about all the things he did,

87

:

Det. Jim Conroy:

88

:

So that's how he gets hired.

89

:

So he starts in August of '08.

90

:

Uh, so he had moved from California, uh,

and then moved to Marysville and then, uh,

91

:

he worked till, uh, December 31st of 2013.

92

:

Melissa Chase, Union County Asst. Prosecutor:

93

:

Would you state your name

for the record, please?

94

:

Stephanie Van Brimmer:

Stephanie Van Brimmer.

95

:

Melissa Chase, Union County Asst. Prosecutor:

96

:

When

97

:

Stephanie Van Brimmer:

did you fir first meet Mr.

98

:

Baldwin?

99

:

Do you remember?

100

:

I don't remember the year,

but I remember the situation.

101

:

Melissa Chase, Union County Asst. Prosecutor:

102

:

What was the situation?

103

:

Stephanie Van Brimmer: There was

a volunteer orientation at the

104

:

Union County Humane Society that

I had signed up for, um, to start

105

:

volunteering at the Humane Society.

106

:

Melissa Chase, Union County Asst. Prosecutor:

107

:

And

108

:

Stephanie Van Brimmer: if you recall,

I know it's been a while, what

109

:

was your first impression of Mr.

110

:

Baldwin when you met him?

111

:

I admired what he was doing for, um,

the animals within the community.

112

:

I, he was an inspiration to

me because that was something

113

:

I had a passion for doing.

114

:

And so, um, I really looked up to the

work that he was doing in the community.

115

:

Det. Jim Conroy:

116

:

So January 1st, 2014, he started ACT as a

humane, you know, another humane society.

117

:

However, while working as the executive

director at, um, union County Humane

118

:

Society, you know, he claims that

they were not taking animal cruelty

119

:

seriously and that they were, you know,

euthanizing Pit Bulls or if there was

120

:

a Pit Bull, they were being euthanized.

121

:

And that he had a problem with that.

122

:

Um, and that, you know, he really

took, uh, uh, an interest in,

123

:

in the cruelty aspect of it.

124

:

So he went to and got his, uh,

I think it was a 20 hour class

125

:

he had taken, uh, online, uh.

126

:

Uh, through the state of Ohio to

become a humane agent, which he did.

127

:

Steffen Baldwin: So I was

like, I'm gonna do that.

128

:

And on the, on the evenings when I'm done

being the director, doing admin stuff,

129

:

I'll just hit the field, put my boots on,

go out in the field, just do like hands-on

130

:

animal cruelty investigation work.

131

:

Yeah.

132

:

Um, and that was like,

that was great for me.

133

:

I was able to do that.

134

:

Um, got commissioned, um, and, uh.

135

:

It is funny.

136

:

In Ohio they have, you go through

two and a half days of training, two

137

:

days, two days actually, of training.

138

:

They've changed it, but when I went

through, they, they make you watch

139

:

this video and it's an old ass video.

140

:

And then on the, on the first day,

second day, on the morning of the third

141

:

day, uh, they give you the test and

they give you all the questions and

142

:

all the answers and they're like, just

let us know when you're done reading.

143

:

All the, just memorize, okay, got it.

144

:

Take the test.

145

:

Here you go.

146

:

You're, you now have full

police powers to enforce Title

147

:

VII of the Ohio Revised Code.

148

:

Wow.

149

:

Which is the agricultural title.

150

:

So yeah, you get full police powers.

151

:

Um, and um, it's interesting because it

is a public law enforcement position.

152

:

Yeah.

153

:

But they have given in the law

that authority to a private

154

:

non-profit, county humane society.

155

:

Yeah, so it's a really interesting

way to kind of like balance public and

156

:

power, uh, public and private rather.

157

:

Um, because I was sworn in by a

judge, but then I was reporting

158

:

to the board of directors of a

private county Humane Society doing

159

:

my job of public law enforcement.

160

:

Mary Beth Brown: Dog wardens, based

upon an Ohio Attorney general opinion

161

:

from a very long time ago, stated that

Dog Wardens had full police powers.

162

:

You can carry a gun, you can carry

a badge, you can arrest somebody.

163

:

Humane agents, because humane

societies, they serve a government

164

:

function, but they're not

necessarily a government agency.

165

:

But they are, the probate court says, Hey,

you, you can, you can enforce these laws.

166

:

So, um, the humane agent takes the case

and hands it over to the county prosecutor

167

:

and says, Hey, can we file these charges?

168

:

The humane agent has,

has far less authority.

169

:

They have to go to the

courts and ask for that.

170

:

Um, a dog warden by, by law, by

code, has has more authority.

171

:

I'm like, Steffen, you know that I work

as a humane agent when I'm a humane

172

:

agent and I don't have those same powers.

173

:

It does not say that.

174

:

And, and we went through and we

read the whole humane code, and we

175

:

read through the Dog Warden code.

176

:

I'm like, look, there's

nothing in here that says it.

177

:

Now, I think that your Humane Society

board could say, okay, we're willing to

178

:

take the liability on if you wanna use a

concealed carry permit and carry, carry a

179

:

firearm with you, but you're still just,

you know, you're acting as, as a citizen.

180

:

. Steffen Baldwin: I, I needed

something that mattered too.

181

:

I felt like such a failure.

182

:

My marriage was done like I was working

at the shelter and that was important.

183

:

Like, it's always been the hands-on stuff,

like when I ran the homeless shelter.

184

:

I was there actually helping

homeless people, like hands on.

185

:

When I was doing the fundraising,

I was doing it at a higher level

186

:

and I didn't feel as fulfilled.

187

:

Yeah.

188

:

And then I went back and,

and worked at the shelter.

189

:

Uh, and I was doing admin stuff.

190

:

I didn't feel as fulfilled.

191

:

I put my boots on and I went out and

actually knocked on doors and like

192

:

took dogs off and chains and shit.

193

:

All of a sudden that sense of fulfillment

came back and I got hooked on it.

194

:

Um, and I loved it so much.

195

:

Dr. G:

196

:

I think that he went into the humane

agent and trying to save the dogs first

197

:

because it was gonna bring him popularity

and it was gonna bring in people saying,

198

:

oh, look at him, he's helping the dogs.

199

:

But also it was less work than actually

running a shelter and running it

200

:

right, right?

201

:

Because Rachel Finney kind of left

him with a good running shelter.

202

:

And I know because I went there,

uh, once or twice with the Rascal

203

:

Unit, we went there to do some spay

and neuter for the community, and

204

:

it seemed like it was running great.

205

:

And then after she left,

we never went back in.

206

:

And I have to say I never heard the

name Steffen Baldwin until:

207

:

So I even had no idea that he was the one

running the Union County Humane Society.

208

:

Mary Beth Brown: I truly think

that he was, was going to be let go

209

:

from Union County Humane Society.

210

:

So he had to create his own,

um, place to, to beat his drum.

211

:

Sara Winfield: My name is Sara Winfield.

212

:

I started out as a foster with Act Ohio.

213

:

Steffen was involved in Big

Brother's Big Sisters lunch Buddy

214

:

program and had been my son's lunch

buddy at Northwood Elementary.

215

:

Maybe he never had a noble intention,

but like, it's a, it was a progression.

216

:

It started off with working

at the Humane Society.

217

:

And I don't think he was

obviously on the up and up there.

218

:

He wasn't doing anything wrong.

219

:

I think that's the way he was

working at the Humane Society.

220

:

Um, the personality flaws were there.

221

:

And then, you know,

that's not good enough.

222

:

He's not getting the attention

that he wants in that role.

223

:

Like, 'cause you know, he

was around, people loved him.

224

:

He was doing great, like, he was

really good at fundraising then.

225

:

Like he started all kinds of

cool fundraisers and stuff.

226

:

Um, I think there was the

kayak with your pooch.

227

:

There was like a spaghetti dinner

thing about, um, spay-ghetti, no balls

228

:

or something like that to raise money

like, he'd have clever little taglines

229

:

that would really draw people in.

230

:

They had a dog washing fundraiser,

so he had all these really cool

231

:

fundraisers, but I don't think any of

it was getting him enough attention.

232

:

Det. Jim Conroy:

233

:

So in November of 2011, he was sworn in

as not only the executive director, which

234

:

he was working as a full-time job, but he

was now the humane agent, which he claimed

235

:

he was going out and, uh, taking calls

and, and things like that after work.

236

:

Steffen Baldwin: 'Cause animals

are defenseless and someone's

237

:

gotta look out for 'em.

238

:

And that's our job as the humane

society is to look out for the animals.

239

:

Det. Jim Conroy:

240

:

Um, and so he was, you know, doing that.

241

:

Then he claimed that, uh, Union County

Board Humane Society was saying he

242

:

was focusing too much on the animal

cruelty aspect of it and wanted him

243

:

to pull back and he didn't want to.

244

:

Steffen Baldwin: So my County Humane

Society, where I was the director,

245

:

when I got really hardcore about like

taking in dogs and like actually,

246

:

and, and horses and, and everything

else, they got really nervous.

247

:

The reason why they got nervous is,

uh, there's a big divide usually

248

:

between the agricultural community

and the animal welfare community.

249

:

It's usually you're on

one side or the other.

250

:

Right?

251

:

And I was always kind of in the middle.

252

:

I can get along with the

farmers, I can get along with

253

:

the, the animal welfare people.

254

:

Like I didn't have this, like, it wasn't

a big thing for me, but my board got

255

:

really nervous because as I started taking

in more horses and dogs from farmers,

256

:

because they were abusing the shit

out of them, they said, you know what?

257

:

I think if you do this too much,

it's gonna affect donations.

258

:

The farmer's gonna get pissed off

that you're out there taking all these

259

:

animals and we're gonna lose money.

260

:

Josh Boyer: So shitty man.

261

:

Right?

262

:

'cause that's our responsibility.

263

:

Responsibility gets so politicized now.

264

:

Steffen Baldwin: And that that's our

animals can't speak up for themselves.

265

:

And I wasn't, I wasn't taking animals

that didn't deserve to be taken.

266

:

The judge agreed with me on every case.

267

:

I have a 100% prosecution record.

268

:

That's awesome.

269

:

I didn't lose a single case.

270

:

They never even went to full trial because

I had so much evidence that once we got

271

:

to the discovery phase, their lawyer's

like, ah, he fucking got you dude.

272

:

You should plead.

273

:

Yeah.

274

:

So like I won every case without even

going to trial and they were like, ah,

275

:

we don't wanna lose donations, so you

shouldn't be so hardcore about this.

276

:

And I was on fire, dude.

277

:

I was like, yeah, I'm out.

278

:

I got my boots on, I'm

out doing something.

279

:

I'm out in the field, like frozen

cutting chains off of dogs and stuff.

280

:

Like I felt alive, right?

281

:

Yeah.

282

:

Especially after my whole marriage

went to shit and everything.

283

:

So we had a big board meeting

and they said, we don't want you

284

:

to investigate animal cruelty.

285

:

Dr. G:

286

:

Do you know if he was told, if it

was ever told that he was unable

287

:

to pursue animal cruelty cases?

288

:

Mary Beth Brown: They did not

want him to be the humane agent.

289

:

They wanted him to run the shelter

and, and he had bragged about all this

290

:

funding that he was gonna bring in.

291

:

And that was, that was the primary, that

was to be the primary focus of his job.

292

:

But he really wanted to

be out doing those cases.

293

:

Yeah.

294

:

Dr. G:

295

:

So it wasn't a matter of we

don't want a humane agent.

296

:

It is, we want you to do your job.

297

:

Mary Beth Brown: Right.

298

:

Det. Jim Conroy:

299

:

So that was his, uh, justification

for, alright, I'm gonna, uh, open

300

:

up my own Humane Society, uh,

which is not easy to do again.

301

:

But he was smart enough to understand the

laws of Ohio, and you have to go through

302

:

a probate court and show that there is

a need for another Humane Society since

303

:

they already had one there, which he did.

304

:

And he used that, uh, that, you know, they

don't wanna do cruelty investigations.

305

:

They want him to focus more on

just, you know, the, the day-to-day

306

:

job and that he didn't feel that

that was, you know, sufficient.

307

:

Uh, and he couldn't accept that.

308

:

And so he wanted to do his own Humane

Society and do his own investigating.

309

:

Steffen Baldwin: I went to the judge.

310

:

I was like, Hey, my Humane

Society said this on record.

311

:

They don't want me doing my job.

312

:

So can I just start my own

organization and just do it

313

:

through my own organization?

314

:

Det. Jim Conroy:

315

:

And then, so that's how the Animal

Cruelty Task Force of Ohio was formed.

316

:

So he had to do paperwork and go

through a probate court to do that.

317

:

And then in doing that, um, you know, he

has to submit his resume there as well.

318

:

Um, so, uh, so he does that and he goes

through all this, all, all these steps.

319

:

And then he gets approved to be the Animal

Cruelty Taskforce, the second Humane

320

:

Society in Union County, besides the Union

County Humane Society, which is contracted

321

:

with the county as its Humane society.

322

:

Baldwin's ACT of Ohio was

not, that was just his own.

323

:

But Union County,

324

:

so any, any dog that was to be found

as a stray or anything like that were

325

:

to go to Union County Humane Society.

326

:

So, and then Baldwin, you know,

was also still working as a Union

327

:

County Humane Society humane agent.

328

:

So even though he left as

executive director, he was

329

:

still the county humane agent.

330

:

But now he got sworn in as

the ACT Ohio Humane agent.

331

:

Joshua Piestrop, Esq. Defense Attorney:

332

:

Now, sometime in January of 2014, you

took over as Humane Agent for ACT Ohio?

333

:

Steffen Baldwin: That is correct.

334

:

Uh, the, my, my Humane Agent

appointment was transferred over.

335

:

I was essentially unappointed, uh, by Ms.

336

:

Eufinger in her office, uh, by the

Honorable Judge Eufinger in her office,

337

:

and then reappointed, um, through the

Animal Cruelty Task Force of Ohio as a

338

:

Second County Humane Society, primarily

because Union County Humane Society

339

:

at that point went on record saying

that they did not want to enforce

340

:

animal cruelty laws because they

were afraid it would hurt donations.

341

:

Det. Jim Conroy:

342

:

This is very complicated.

343

:

So it's much easier to explain now,

when I was going through it, it was just

344

:

like, what the heck is going on here?

345

:

Just hard to make heads or tails

of, of, of all these different

346

:

things that were going on.

347

:

Um, and then, but then he, he used

that, you know, he's the County

348

:

Humane agent, but he mingled them

together like he was for ACT.

349

:

So most people thought that

ACT Ohio was the Union County

350

:

Humane Society, but it was not.

351

:

But he talked as if it was, so he kind

of represented Union County wrong because

352

:

he would always say ACT, but he, he

was two separate positions for him.

353

:

You know, he was to work with Union

County on any of the dogs, which

354

:

he picked and choose what dogs he'd

send there, or what dogs he kept.

355

:

The dogs that, you know, if there was no

story to it, those are the dogs that were

356

:

gonna go to union County Humane Society.

357

:

If there was publicity out of this

dog, then that's the dog he was

358

:

gonna bring to ACT Ohio and, and, and

publicize and then, you know, create

359

:

a buzz for it and, and donations.

360

:

So his first year was 2014, and he

started it with a, a, his girlfriend

361

:

at the time was Shelby Grabor.

362

:

So she had been with him prior to that.

363

:

Um, and they were boyfriend, girlfriend,

and, the first year, I don't really

364

:

know that much about his first year.

365

:

So this case really wasn't made that

much with those first 18 months.

366

:

But from what I can gather from the

information I do have is that, you know,

367

:

he was running it like a humane society.

368

:

Steffen Baldwin: So, um.

369

:

This legal loophole said that, uh,

"A", the word "a" in a county humane

370

:

society said that the, the plural

does not exclude the singular, and the

371

:

singular does not exclude the plural.

372

:

So a could mean more than one county

humane society if the judge in

373

:

that county says there's a need.

374

:

So we had a big board meeting

and they said, we don't want you

375

:

to investigate animal cruelty.

376

:

So I took the minutes to the board

meeting, I went to the judge.

377

:

I was like, Hey, my Humane

Society said this on record.

378

:

They don't want me doing my job.

379

:

So can I just start my own

organization and just do it

380

:

through my own organization?

381

:

She's like, I don't know.

382

:

I've never heard of that.

383

:

And I was like, well, I came prepared.

384

:

Here's this legal decision

from 20 years ago.

385

:

I think you can.

386

:

And she's like, let me research it.

387

:

I'll call you back.

388

:

So the judge calls me back, she's

like, yeah, you can, you can do that.

389

:

It's surprisingly easy actually.

390

:

It shouldn't be so easy, but it is.

391

:

So that's what I did.

392

:

I formed my own, uh, county Humane

Society, and I started doing

393

:

the job that they wouldn't do.

394

:

And, um, got a lot of publicity

for that, you know, social media.

395

:

I had to raise awareness.

396

:

You know, we, we were all donation

funded, so I had to go online

397

:

and I had to tell my story.

398

:

And, um, you know, uh, we

got all kinds of traction.

399

:

Everyone was like really interested,

really engaged with what I was doing.

400

:

Melissa Chase, Union County Assistant Prosecutor:

Would you state your name

401

:

for the record please?

402

:

Matthew Smith: Matthew Smith.

403

:

Melissa Chase, Union County Assistant Prosecutor:

Okay.

404

:

And are you, you also aware of the

Animal Cruelty Taskforce of Ohio?

405

:

Matthew Smith: I am.

406

:

Melissa Chase, Union County Assistant Prosecutor:

And would you tell us, how do

407

:

you know this organization?

408

:

How, how are you familiar with it?

409

:

Matthew Smith: Um, I came familiar

with it when it was first started.

410

:

I was asked to assist in, in, um,

helping him to get organized, uh, Mr.

411

:

Baldwin to get organized

with, uh, ACT Ohio,

412

:

and attended one board meeting

and after that I ended my

413

:

engagement with, uh, with Act Ohio.

414

:

Melissa Chase, Union County Assistant Prosecutor:

So, and, and if you would, what is the

415

:

nonprofit that is in that certificate?

416

:

Matthew Smith: Uh, animal

Cruelty Task Force of Ohio.

417

:

Melissa Chase, Union County Assistant Prosecutor:

What is this document, Matt,

418

:

that we're looking at right now?

419

:

Matthew Smith: Uh, it's initial articles

of incorporation for a domestic nonprofit.

420

:

Melissa Chase, Union County Assistant Prosecutor:

Now we go down to the

421

:

purpose for the organization.

422

:

Do you mind?

423

:

Do you see that there?

424

:

Matthew Smith: The purpose for which

the corporation is formed is to

425

:

work, uh, directly with rural Humane

Societies formed under ORC:

426

:

assisting them with appointing and

equipping qualified humane agents agents

427

:

per the requirements under ORC 1717.06,

428

:

and to ensure enforcement of animal

cruelty laws defined under ORC 959

429

:

through the powers defined in ORC 1717.08.

430

:

Melissa Chase, Union County Assistant Prosecutor:

And who are the listed incorporators?

431

:

Just the names please.

432

:

Matthew Smith: Steffen Baldwin,

Shelby Grabor and Matthew Smith.

433

:

Melissa Chase, Union County Assistant Prosecutor:

And who was the original statutory agent?

434

:

Matthew Smith: Uh, Steffen Baldwin.

435

:

Stephanie Van Brimmer: ACT was, um, a,

a Humane Society within Union County.

436

:

It was the second Humane Society

and our focus was going to be

437

:

more around the animal cruelty.

438

:

And Steffen spent a lot of time and

effort in trying to work with changing

439

:

the laws because, um, in the law, in the

state of Ohio, you can only investigate,

440

:

um, cruelty within the county that you

are, you reside in as a humane agent.

441

:

And so ACT was supposed to, um,

go across all of Ohio if we were

442

:

able to get those laws changed.

443

:

Um, and so that was what it was

created for, was to do that and then

444

:

also, um, try to assist, uh, rural

counties that either didn't have

445

:

humane agents or needed assistance.

446

:

So that was the, the scope

of my understanding of ACT.

447

:

Sara Winfield: So then he starts

ACT Ohio with, uh, Shelby.

448

:

And, um, during that time he also started

like a grant writing business and that,

449

:

you know, like that he was, you know,

tooting his own horn about writing grants

450

:

for like, um, some of our local charities.

451

:

And ACT Ohio started off, he was

just supposed to be investigating.

452

:

There was, you know, he wasn't

ever supposed to be taking dogs in.

453

:

And that's like when I looked at the

model of it, when I became involved, I'm

454

:

like, why is he taking all these dogs in?

455

:

Shouldn't, if he wants to run the way this

is written, like the way he's written up

456

:

what he wants to do, he should go out and

investigate these animal cruelty cases,

457

:

work on the charges with prosecutors.

458

:

And I know that what he was trying

to bring in so he could work

459

:

in more counties besides Union.

460

:

'cause I mean, we're a small

county, we're not getting that many.

461

:

Like, why did he even start it?

462

:

Because there's not that much

animal cruelty in Union County.

463

:

You might have, you know, the

occasional case, but it's not enough

464

:

to have a full-time job of it.

465

:

So he starts trying to make this into a

full-time job and when he doesn't have

466

:

enough cases, he's trying to branch out.

467

:

DrG: One of the things that he would

say is that as, as humane agent for

468

:

ACT Ohio, he was able to basically

be humane agent for any county and he

469

:

would go to other places and just pretty

much present himself as a humane agent

470

:

with legal authority in those places.

471

:

And that's not, that's not it, right?

472

:

Det. Jim Conroy:

473

:

Yeah.

474

:

You have to be sworn

in through your county.

475

:

Um, he had agreements with like

four different counties, but he

476

:

had no authority to, to do, to go

in there to do any investigation.

477

:

Um, it was kind of a odd

478

:

situation, 'cause he did have agreements,

I think with like four different counties.

479

:

We charged him for that in our case,

for impersonating a peace officer.

480

:

But that was only a misdemeanor.

481

:

And that ended up, because the case took

so long, it ended up getting dismissed

482

:

because of statute of limitations,

but, um, I did charge him with that.

483

:

Even in Union County he was committing

a crime 'cause he carried his gun.

484

:

He was a humane agent.

485

:

It's a 20 hour course.

486

:

Nothing in there about carrying weapons

or, uh, using deadly force he was to do

487

:

dog cases and, at the time, child cases.

488

:

For whatever reason that's

all within that law.

489

:

But he could do child cases

or dog cases, that's it.

490

:

but he only had the power to, um,

you know, act if he saw, you know,

491

:

a dog being neglected and that's it.

492

:

Um, but he carried stun gun, he

carried a firearm and he carried

493

:

a badge and he presented himself

as a law enforcement officer.

494

:

Nobody questioned it.

495

:

He got away with it.

496

:

Um, but again, it goes to the disconnect

between actual law enforcement and humane

497

:

agents and what they can and can't do.

498

:

And most police officers probably don't

understand the role, don't understand

499

:

what abilities they have or can do.

500

:

So I, I understand that how easily

that can get overlooked, and I wasn't

501

:

until I started investigating this,

you know, wasn't exactly sure, all I

502

:

knew is that you know what I'm required

and every year I have to qualify.

503

:

For the state of Ohio, I have

to do it through our department

504

:

and, and if I don't, I lose

my ability to carry a firearm.

505

:

So I lose my ability

to be a police officer.

506

:

Now, any officer does.

507

:

Okay, so if you're a humane agent and

you're carrying a gun, common sense told

508

:

me like, well, he needs to be qualified.

509

:

If he's carrying a weapon,

um, he has to qualify.

510

:

If he's carrying deadly force, he

need, he could do it, but he also needs

511

:

permission either from his board or

from, uh, you know, somebody in Union

512

:

County, either the sheriff's department,

maybe they can give him a commission,

513

:

but you just can't carry a weapon.

514

:

And he did.

515

:

And he carried it as if he

was a law enforcement officer.

516

:

He was not.

517

:

He was an agent of the state of Ohio.

518

:

That did not give him any

right to carry a weapon.

519

:

Uh, he cannot physically arrest anybody.

520

:

He would have to do it by summons or

call the Sheriff's department and ask

521

:

them to put somebody in, in handcuffs.

522

:

Um, but he presented himself as if

he was a law enforcement officer.

523

:

DrG: And that gun he bought through,

um, Animal Cruelty Taskforce,

524

:

Right?

525

:

So it was, yes, realistically that

gun was the property of the nonprofit.

526

:

Det. Jim Conroy:

527

:

And in the back of the truck

was the Glock 21 in a Glock, uh,

528

:

box, uh, like a locked Glock box.

529

:

Eventually when I got the records,

the financial records, I came across a

530

:

site, uh, or, or statement, uh, of a gun

purchase through ACT Ohio at a location

531

:

called Build A Gun in Columbus, Ohio.

532

:

So when you purchase things as a 501c3,

you have to have a receipt of it.

533

:

You know, it has to be for that 501c3.

534

:

And then in Ohio, when any organization,

you know stops existing as a 501c3,

535

:

you're required by Ohio laws to

then donate all of your property

536

:

that you've bought or purchased, uh,

your assets to other like charities.

537

:

And if you don't do that, then

you're required to present a list to

538

:

the probate court in Union County,

so then they can distribute it.

539

:

Matthew Smith: Article eight.

540

:

The assets of the corporation

are irrevocably dedicated to

541

:

charitable and educational purposes.

542

:

Upon the dissolution of the corporation,

the assets shall be distributed for

543

:

one or more exempt purposes within

the meaning of Section 501c3 of the

544

:

Internal Revenue Code, or a corresponding

section of any future federal tax

545

:

code, or shall be distributed to the

federal government or to a state or

546

:

local government for public purpose.

547

:

Any such assets not so disposed of, shall

be disposed of by a court of competent

548

:

jurisdiction of the county in which the

principal office of the corporation is

549

:

then located exclusively for such purposes

or to such organizations as said court

550

:

shall determine, which are organized and

operated exclusively for such purposes.

551

:

Det. Jim Conroy:

552

:

Well, of course, of which he did none

of that, all of that stuff, or not all

553

:

of it, but a large majority of it was

on that truck, which we didn't know

554

:

at that time, including the gun that

he had purchased with ACT Ohio money,

555

:

um, was on that truck too as well,

556

:

and that's the gun that

he took to California.

557

:

And it's the gun that we charged

him, uh, with a theft of a firearm

558

:

in which he was also convicted of.

559

:

There's pictures that he took

that he would send in messengers.

560

:

He would have a, a bag of weed on

the seat, and his badge and the gun,

561

:

and it would all be sitting on there.

562

:

And he'd be on messaging somebody he was

interested in and saying, I'm coming back

563

:

from Akron, Ohio, and he was getting high.

564

:

And they'd be like, be careful.

565

:

You, you're driving, you know,

you've gotta watch out and you

566

:

might get stopped by the police.

567

:

And what I took that is, is, well, I've

got a badge and a gun, you know, I'm

568

:

not, they're not gonna do anything to me.

569

:

But he did not have authority

to carry a gun and act as a

570

:

peace officer when he was not.

571

:

So just through his financial

records, you could see staying at

572

:

hotels and spending all this money

and doing different things as probably

573

:

early, early on, first, second,

third month, he started doing this.

574

:

And then he was paying

himself expenses for mileage.

575

:

So not only was he

using money financially,

576

:

he was paying himself a salary,

he was paying himself expenses.

577

:

Then he was using all that money

to, to fund on his personal life.

578

:

And then, on top of that, you know, he

and Shelby Grabor were getting salaries

579

:

and they had gotten a lot of donations

off first, and then they had gone through

580

:

all of that money in like, August.

581

:

So they paid themselves out

like $55,000 in salaries

582

:

through August, between the two.

583

:

Um, and then from that point on, um,

is when he started spending almost the

584

:

majority of the donations on himself.

585

:

And he met you at that same time?

586

:

I wanna say, was that May of '14?

587

:

DrG: Of '14, yes.

588

:

Mm-hmm.

589

:

Det. Jim Conroy:

590

:

Yeah.

591

:

So that's when you had started

your partnership with him.

592

:

DrG: So I first met Steffen around May

of:

593

:

present at a seminar, and my presentation

was on the clinical signs, the problems

594

:

that animals rescued from like puppy

mill, hoarding cases are going to have.

595

:

And then his presentation was

on his role as a humane officer.

596

:

And you know, from what he said,

it called to me just because I was

597

:

starting to get into forensics.

598

:

I was starting to wanna do

animal cruelty type cases.

599

:

And what he said was kind of

like the, the perfect addition

600

:

to what I was doing, right?

601

:

Because as a veterinarian, I can't

go and, you know, investigate cases

602

:

on my own, but I can provide support.

603

:

As I saw it, he could provide the

boots on the ground as he said

604

:

it, to investigate these cases,

605

:

and then myself as a veterinarian, I

would be evaluating the animals, providing

606

:

medical care, and then writing reports so

that I could assist with the prosecutions.

607

:

Uh, at the end of that seminar, I walked

up to him and, and I told him, "Hey, I

608

:

think that, that we could collaborate,

that it could be something really cool."

609

:

And he, of course was immediately let's

talk, let's, let's get this going.

610

:

So that's how everything started.

611

:

Everything started with just wanting to do

something better for the animals in Ohio.

612

:

Sara Winfield: He would surround him

with himself, with people that would make

613

:

him look good and clean up his messes.

614

:

That's exactly what we were doing.

615

:

We, we were like cleaning up the messes

for him and making him look good.

616

:

DrG: Now, it wasn't long before

he started bringing us stuff.

617

:

In June really, we started communicating

and then in July he brought us

618

:

his first rescue, which was a dog

named Dually from Muskingum County.

619

:

Jane Cooper: I did not know

Steffen Baldwin personally.

620

:

However, um, I did know of him

because he had rescued a dog that I

621

:

was very interested in named Dually.

622

:

So I had, , followed him on Facebook once

I found out that he had rescued Dually.

623

:

And I also, um, did message him

about Dually and I, uh, actually

624

:

talked to him one time on the phone.

625

:

Dually originated from the

626

:

Muskingum pound, and was rescued by a lady

named Gail , who was from Union County.

627

:

Dually, had I'm, I'm sorry, I forgot to

mention he had a huge tumor on his leg.

628

:

We were afraid he was gonna be euthanized

at the dog pound because another reason

629

:

dogs might, would, would be euthanized

is if they had major health problems.

630

:

So he was, he was on the euth list,

Dually was, and he, um, but the,

631

:

uh, Gail came and rescued him.

632

:

She said she was gonna

get his tumor removed.

633

:

So we started following to find out if she

had, you know, that that was happening.

634

:

And we were getting concerned because

we were trying to call the vets to

635

:

find out, we couldn't find out anything

about Dually having an operation.

636

:

And that was May of 2014.

637

:

In July of 2014, we were excited to find

out that our dog warden had received a

638

:

call from Steffen, and that's the first

I'd ever heard of Steffen at that point.

639

:

That, um, he was . humane officer officer

and he called our dog warden and said

640

:

that, had possession of Dually, had taken

Dually from, um, Gail, uh, because of,

641

:

I said neglect is how I understood it.

642

:

And he was going to take care

of the tumor on Dually's legs.

643

:

So we volunteers were so relieved to

find out that, um, that Dually was

644

:

going to get the care that we had

assumed he was going to get from Gail.

645

:

Melissa Chase, Union County Assistant Prosecutor:

And who was Dually?

646

:

Jennifer Tucker: Uh, he

was a dog that I fostered.

647

:

Um, and originally came from ACT Ohio.

648

:

Um, I got involved with

him through the rescue

649

:

I was involved with Open

Hearts Bully Rescue.

650

:

He had just had a mass

removed from his leg.

651

:

He had a cone on his head and had to

keep him kind of quiet if possible.

652

:

Melissa Chase, Union County Assistant Prosecutor:

And, um, what if, you know, did

653

:

Dually have any behavioral issues?

654

:

Jennifer Tucker: Uh, he had

a resource guarding issue.

655

:

Melissa Chase, Union County Assistant Prosecutor:

And

656

:

Jennifer Tucker: were you aware of

that when he was brought to you?

657

:

Yes, Amanda told me that.

658

:

Melissa Chase, Union County Assistant Prosecutor:

What was Dually like?

659

:

Jennifer Tucker: Um, for the most part,

he was a pretty happy go lucky dog.

660

:

Um, he had his issues with the food, which

could have been pretty scary at times.

661

:

Um, he most of the time got along

with my other dogs, but he did have,

662

:

um, a problem with my male dog.

663

:

He, he kind of attacked

him a couple times.

664

:

The food resource I kinda worked with

him on, um, trying to slowly when you

665

:

put his dish on the, on the ground, on

the floor, you had to leave the room.

666

:

If you went back in the room or you

got close to him, he would attack you.

667

:

So I worked on that by maybe giving him

hot dogs and getting close to the pan.

668

:

Um, I could hand feed him, but like

I said, once you put the food on, on

669

:

the floor, if you just left him alone.

670

:

I would reach out with him about the,

um, how to handle him attacking my other

671

:

dog, Dually, attacking my other dog.

672

:

Um, I really didn't

get any help with that.

673

:

I took him through obedience

training and I got his good

674

:

canine citizens certificate.

675

:

Amanda had asked me to take him

through the obedience training.

676

:

And when we, Dually and I, finished

the, the training, they offered

677

:

up the certificate to test for the

certificate, so I went ahead and did that.

678

:

Melissa Chase, Union County Assistant Prosecutor:

What, if any, um, funds did ACT

679

:

Ohio pay for for Dually's uh,

Canine Good Citizenship Certificate?

680

:

Jennifer Tucker: None that I

know of, 'cause I paid for it.

681

:

Jane Cooper: I was.

682

:

Slightly concerned because, or some

somewhat concerned because after Dually

683

:

had, um, his tumor removed and it was

posted and we had, um, been following

684

:

Dually and, and there had been posts about

Dually's rehabilitation, how he was doing.

685

:

We could not find, there was a point

in time where we couldn't find out

686

:

any information about Dually anymore.

687

:

Melissa Chase, Union County Assistant Prosecutor:

Did you adopt Dually?

688

:

Jennifer Tucker: I

adopted him from Amanda.

689

:

I didn't know who to

turn to, who owned it.

690

:

I, I would ask Amanda and she,

she would say, well, Steffen's

691

:

never signed over paperwork to me.

692

:

So he's really Steffen's dog.

693

:

I run into Steffen or message Steffen,

and Steffen would say he's Amanda's dog.

694

:

I was concerned when both

the rescues closed down.

695

:

Um, that's what made me want to

adopt him, because I didn't want to

696

:

get involved with another rescue.

697

:

I didn't want Dually to be given

to another foster or a person like

698

:

that, 'cause he had just been settled

into my house, so I didn't want him

699

:

to have to do that all over again.

700

:

Melissa Chase, Union County Assistant Prosecutor:

How did you feel about Dually?

701

:

Jennifer Tucker: I love Dually.

702

:

Melissa Chase, Union County Assistant Prosecutor:

And I'm sorry to ask this,

703

:

but what, what happened?

704

:

You said he passed away in 2019?

705

:

Jennifer Tucker: Yeah, he, um, he

started out with renal failure, which

706

:

we managed, and then in December of

:

707

:

which really hurts the kidneys.

708

:

And so he just really never bounced

back from that and just continued to get

709

:

worse until he passed away in September.

710

:

I contacted him to let him know what his

condition was and he was soon to pass.

711

:

At first he was concerned, and

then the opinion I got from the

712

:

conversation was he, he kind of, I

don't know the exact words, but he

713

:

kind of, in a roundabout, we way said,

are you wanting me to pay for this?

714

:

Dr G AI: After Dually

came a dog named Evelyn.

715

:

Evelyn was found as a stray in Marion

County with a bad wound on her front leg.

716

:

A lady adopted her but she could

not afford the amputation surgery.

717

:

Steffen reached out and brought

her to the Rascal Animal Hospital

718

:

to have the surgery done.

719

:

Next, still in Marion, Steffen reached

out about a lady with multiple little

720

:

dogs, living in a hoarding-type

situation and needing help.

721

:

The lady said that the dogs would get

into fights and one dog killed another.

722

:

We drove our Rascal Unit vehicle to

the location, evaluated the dogs,

723

:

brought them back to the Rascal Animal

Hospital where they received care,

724

:

baths, and where they stayed for a

few days until they could be placed.

725

:

Melissa Chase, Union County Asst. Prosecutor:

726

:

Who had the idea for

the first collaboration?

727

:

Dr. G:

728

:

Um, I think it was

somewhat of a joint idea.

729

:

Um, I had said about how we had

some money through Rascal Charities

730

:

to do some high volume cases, and

that I was waiting to do the, you

731

:

know, find the right case to do it.

732

:

And then he presented a case that he had

that would've, that fit perfect with what.

733

:

We were trying to do.

734

:

Melissa Chase, Union County Asst. Prosecutor:

735

:

Okay, doctor, and I wanna ask you

how much money, if you remember,

736

:

back in 2014, I think this is,

um, I'm looking at the dates.

737

:

Um, how much money did you have

to spend in Rascal Charities Fund?

738

:

Dr. G:

739

:

For that, for that purpose,

we had about $5,000.

740

:

Melissa Chase, Union County Asst. Prosecutor:

741

:

Okay.

742

:

And when you say for that

purpose, what were, what were

743

:

you able to use that money for?

744

:

Dr. G:

745

:

So we had reserved that money for,

again, like high volume cases.

746

:

So, uh, particularly I'm very interested

in hoarding and animal hoarding, so I

747

:

wanted to utilize it for some, um, you

know, high volume animal hoarding cases.

748

:

DrG: So Steffen presented a case.

749

:

He said that he had the perfect case

that there were these three ladies

750

:

in Marion that had a lot of cats

and that he had been working with

751

:

them for approximately about a year.

752

:

Bringing them food, bringing them

litter, and kind of helping them out.

753

:

And that they would not allow him

into the house, but he could smell

754

:

the urine from like the sidewalk.

755

:

Um, so he knew there were a lot of cats.

756

:

He didn't know exactly how many,

and he wanted me to go with him

757

:

and see if I could talk to them

and evaluate the situation.

758

:

See if, you know, it's, it's

a case that we could help.

759

:

So I went to the house with Steffen,

uh, to meet these people and he knocks

760

:

on the door and the, and the lady opens

the door and he said, you know, he

761

:

introduces me and says, Hey, this is the

veterinarian that I was talking to you.

762

:

Can she come in and talk

to you about the cats?

763

:

And she was so excited to see me.

764

:

Like there was no hesitation.

765

:

She was like, yes, please come in.

766

:

And she showed me the house and the

state in which they were living.

767

:

It was horrendous, like

the smell of, of urine.

768

:

The floors were sticky.

769

:

There was just urine and feces everywhere.

770

:

There were so many cats.

771

:

And these three older ladies,

uh, mother and two daughters.

772

:

They thought they had about 30 to 40 cats.

773

:

There were cats everywhere.

774

:

The other thing that was sad about this,

I mean, these were overwhelmed caregivers.

775

:

The mom explained to us how she

started with one cat and she only

776

:

had the one cat after her husband had

passed, and then she got in another

777

:

cat and then it started having litters,

and from there it just exploded.

778

:

So these three women are living with this

smell, the stickiness and all of that.

779

:

And they didn't even have a

bedroom that they could sleep in.

780

:

There was a bed with a

mattress in the living room.

781

:

And then there was a couch where

one slept and then a recliner

782

:

where the other one slept.

783

:

So everything was just horrible.

784

:

Even like their laundry, their

washer and dryer was not usable.

785

:

They had a second floor that they

couldn't go up to because the steps

786

:

were just caked with feces, and they

had cats in cages that they were

787

:

keeping separate because they thought

the cats were in heat and if they kept

788

:

them separate, they were keeping, they

would keep 'em from having babies.

789

:

Uh, so it was just a really,

really sad, overwhelmed, caregiver

790

:

type of hoarding situation.

791

:

Um.

792

:

But they were so receptive to help,

the mom more so than the daughters.

793

:

I told the mom that we wanted to

help, that we wanted to come in

794

:

spay and neuter all the cats so

that we would stop the problem.

795

:

And the mom said that, yes, she

did not want that many cats.

796

:

So the plan would be we come in

with our mobile unit and we're going

797

:

to spay and neuter and vaccinate

everybody, and then we can leave them

798

:

with a workable number of animals.

799

:

Um, again, she thought that

there were about 30 to 40 cats.

800

:

So come

801

:

actual rescue day.

802

:

There were about 74 cats and

she had, she had no idea.

803

:

And there were about 14 cats that she said

died in the period between us going there

804

:

the first time and then coming into the

actual clinic, which was only two weeks.

805

:

So we show up, I bring our truck,

we bring an extra doctor, we

806

:

bring our techs, we bring staff.

807

:

And then,

808

:

Steffen's job was basically to come in,

bring some volunteers, help with grabbing

809

:

the cats and bringing them to the truck,

and then finding them a place to go.

810

:

We show up, we get everything set up, and

one of the first things he says to me is

811

:

Steffen Baldwin: So we

have an actual plan.

812

:

Okay, now I have to find

homes for all of them.

813

:

This is Tabby and.

814

:

DrG: Now I gotta figure out where these

cats are gonna go and starts laughing.

815

:

Kinda like giggling and I'm

thinking it's not funny, right?

816

:

So you have one job.

817

:

Your job is to find these

cats somewhere to go.

818

:

Like we are providing all the

veterinary care, we're providing

819

:

all the medical care, we are

spending money on the vaccines, on

820

:

the surgery, on everything else.

821

:

We are paying for this whole thing.

822

:

And you just have to show up,

help us wrangle some cats and

823

:

then find them a place to go.

824

:

So we start, you know, going through

the rescue, we start bringing animals

825

:

into the truck, uh, doing the surgeries.

826

:

And then about halfway through

the day, he comes in and says,

827

:

Hey, it's all taken care of.

828

:

We have transport for the cats.

829

:

And I was like, oh, okay.

830

:

So that sounds great.

831

:

And then somebody from the

clinic calls and says, Hey, so.

832

:

What are we doing with these cats?

833

:

His idea of transport, he took all

of the cats, put 'em in transport,

834

:

and brought them to the Rascal Animal

Hospital, which we did not have the

835

:

space for 70 something cats, right?

836

:

So, he's bringing us all these cats.

837

:

Um, there were out of, and actually

out of the 74, there were six

838

:

that were euthanized at the time

because they were just very feral,

839

:

and they bit during the process.

840

:

Who did they bite?

841

:

They bit Steffen during the

process because he didn't

842

:

really know how to wrangle cats.

843

:

Steffen Baldwin: I just

wanna get my rabies shot.

844

:

Dana, Rascal Assistant: My

845

:

Steffen Baldwin: God.

846

:

How?

847

:

Here, here, here.

848

:

Here, here, here, here.

849

:

Dana, Rascal Assistant: Those

850

:

Steffen Baldwin: are all bites.

851

:

Here.

852

:

Here.

853

:

This is a scratch For the rest are bites.

854

:

Dana, Rascal Assistant: You

need to stop doing that.

855

:

Steffen Baldwin: Well, I

wanna get the fuck outta here.

856

:

DrG: All of these cats show

up at my hospital and my staff

857

:

is putting them in crates.

858

:

And I mean this, this many cats,

we did not have that much room.

859

:

So they're putting multiple cats in a

cage, which we normally wouldn't do.

860

:

Having to give 'em litter, food, water.

861

:

It's a lot for the staff on top

of all of the clients and patients

862

:

that we have to see regularly.

863

:

We were a 24 hour emergency

hospital, so we were super busy.

864

:

We were a walk-in clinic, so people

were just constantly coming in.

865

:

So he's putting all that burden on us.

866

:

The part that he was supposed to do.

867

:

And who's paying for this because he

wasn't paying for the boarding and Rascal

868

:

Charities wasn't going to pay for animals

that weren't supposed to be there.

869

:

So we got stuck with these cats

for about three to five days before

870

:

finally he said that he was able

to find them somewhere to go.

871

:

Um, however.

872

:

He didn't, he didn't help us raise

any funds towards, uh, this case.

873

:

And, you know, it just did not

go as, as we hoped it would.

874

:

However, later on we found out

that he did raise money for this.

875

:

He just didn't feel like sharing.

876

:

Det. Jim Conroy:

877

:

He kept it all, a year later he

publicized that on a GoFundMe and

878

:

brought in a couple thousand dollars

from it and, and just didn't share.

879

:

You didn't even know about it.

880

:

DrG: I didn't even know

that he had done that.

881

:

Like, that was, yeah.

882

:

So yeah, that was a surprise when

you brought that up to my attention.

883

:

Now, September was pretty quiet, um,

because we had several fundraisers.

884

:

So the first thing was we had a booth

at the Dublin Pet Fair and Steffen

885

:

made sure to make an appearance.

886

:

He had his own booth, but then he came

over to our booth for some photo ops.

887

:

And then, uh, later on in the

month, we had an event, uh, that we

888

:

used to have a guest griller event

at the BD's Mongolian Barbecue.

889

:

And the late Bob Nunley, um, from

NBC four used to be a co griller.

890

:

We would have this grilling battle.

891

:

Um, but Steffen did not show up, even

though he said that he was going to, that

892

:

was the first time that we should have

understood that if it wasn't for him.

893

:

He was not interested in participating.

894

:

Det. Jim Conroy:

895

:

I would find a hard time finding any

situation that he was straight up in that,

896

:

you know, he doesn't lie every second

of his, of his mouth, but there's not

897

:

something he was involved in that he did.

898

:

He lied.

899

:

If he was involved in

something, he was lying.

900

:

It was about something.

901

:

There was some lie in there.

902

:

There was something that he was

manipulating or that he wanted to gain.

903

:

And, and those three, those

several things were one, he

904

:

wanted popularity, he wanted fame.

905

:

Okay?

906

:

So if he can get that out of

something that was being thrown

907

:

at him, he was gonna take it.

908

:

He wanted money.

909

:

Um, so if he can get some money

from something, some opportunity,

910

:

somebody to help a dog, this

or that, he was gonna take it.

911

:

And then, uh, women, if he could get

a woman from it somehow, uh, because

912

:

he was a womanizer, um, and many

women were throwing themselves at him.

913

:

But if one of those three things,

fame, popularity, attention, social

914

:

media, popularity of post, fame,

money, uh, women, and he was all in.

915

:

If he could not get any of those things,

then he didn't, he didn't touch it.

916

:

He didn't want anything to do with it.

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for The Animal Welfare Junction

About the Podcast

The Animal Welfare Junction
Veterinary Forensics
The Animal Welfare Junction is a podcast developed to bring awareness to different topics in animal welfare. The host, Michelle Gonzalez (Dr. G) is a veterinarian who provides affordable veterinary care in the State of Ohio, and also a Forensic Veterinarian helping with the investigation and prosecution of cases of animal cruelty and neglect.
The topics presented are based on the experiences of Dr. G and our guests and include discussions about real cases, humane projects, and legal issues that affect animals and the community. Due to the nature of the discussion, listener discretion is advised as some topics may be too strong for some listeners.

About your host

Profile picture for Alba Gonzalez

Alba Gonzalez

Michelle González (DrG) was born and raised in Puerto Rico. Her passion growing up was to become a veterinarian. She obtained a B.S. in Zoology at Michigan State University and the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at The Ohio State University, followed by a 1-yr Internship in Medicine, Surgery, Emergency and Critical Care at the University of Missouri-Columbia. In 2006 she founded the Rascal Unit, a mobile clinic offering accesible and affordable sterilization, and wellness services throughout the State of Ohio.
Dr. G is involved in many aspects of companion veterinary medicine including education, shelter assistance and help to animals that are victims of cruelty and neglect.
DrG completed a Master’s degree in Veterinary Forensics from the University of Florida and a Master’s in Forensic Psychology from Southern New Hampshire University. She is currently enrolled at the University of Florida Forensic Science program. She assists Humane organizations and animal control officers in the investigation, evaluation, and prosecution of cases of animal cruelty and neglect.