Photos for Headline Surfer / Top and left: There was faint hope that one dog among four found alive would make it, but the small black female lab died a short time later the same day. Top middle: Jail mugshot of William J. Demchick, 43, of Edgewater, the owner of the deceased dogs and resident in the home on Victory Palm Drive, where the animals suffered in disgusting conditions as shown by the main room covered in feces. Below: Another shot of trash piled high in the home and clean-up crews tending to it once police arrived.
By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
EDGEWATER, Fla. -- William J. Demchick has remained behind bars at the Volusia County Jail in Daytona Beach for 11 days now since the disturbing discovery of dead dogs in his residence at 1436 Victory Palm Drive.
There was hope that one dog would survive the horrific and disgusting conditions inside an Edgewater resident's home, but it was not to be for the one dog named "Sasha" initially found alive among four by the authorities.
Shortly after the black lab was transported to the Edgewater Animal shelter, she died.
And so Demchick was arrested back on July 15, on four felony counts of animal cruelty after the Edgewater Police Department was notified of several deceased animals and a dog in need of emergency medical assistance inside the home.
The residence was in deplorable living conditions, with feces and clutter everywhere, and during a search inside it, three dogs were located deceased inside their cages, Edgewater cops said.
A small female black lab was rescued and provided emergency medical assistance, but unfortunately, shortly after receiving fluids and medication, she also died.
Edgewater Police quickly identified the homeowner and owner of the dogs, as Demchick. Demchick was booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail in Daytona Beach and ordered held on a $40,000 bond the next day during his first court appearance.
Edgewater Police quickly identified the homeowner and owner of the dogs, William J. Demchick of Edgewater, who was subsequently arrested and charged with four counts of felony animal cruelty. Demchick was booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail in Daytona Beach where he remains on $40,000 bail.
Here is a synopsis of what occurred as described in the arrest affidavit against Demcheck:
Edgewater cops responded to the residence occupied by Demchick in response to an animal complaint.
A worker at the Edgewater Animal clinic said one dog - the small black la - was found alive while three other dogs were deceased in cages inside the residence.
The black lab appeared to be malnourished and severely underweight, dehydrated and suffering from fleas, worms, and bed bugs. The same as the other three dead dogs. Sadly, the surviving dog, which was jaundiced, was also suffering from liver and kidney failure, perished that afternoon despite the emergency care provided by the Edgewater Animal Shelter, cops said.
Due to extensive trash and empty beer bottles throughout the home, as well as dog feces, spiders, cockroaches, and spider webs, the Volusia County Sheriff's Meth Taskforce was called in to remove the deceased dogs.
Police noted Demcheck showed no emotion when informed the one surviving dog had, in fact, died. He waived his Miranda rights and said he was working a lot of hours -- ironically for a pest control company -- and didn't have time to bury the three dogs in his backyard. He offered no explanation for the trash throughout the home and the extensive dog waste.
The reaction by those on Facebook to the dog deaths and deplorable conditions inside the Edgewater residence to the pics displayed by Edgewater PD was predictably one of anger and disgust.
"Sick!" wrote Jessica Carroll Maddox. "Who would want to live like that?"
"So much empty alcohol boxes," noted Kila Mangold. "Alcoholism is a disease which people need help for" Cindi Rae Collins added. "I guess he didn't receive the help he needed. This is sad."
All in the Facebook string were in agreement that the homeowner should not have had the dogs in the first place.
Edgewater Police Sgt. Stephen Binz said the conditions inside the residence were "the worst" he'd ever seen.
Demchick is scheduled for arraignment before Circuit Judge Elizabeth Blackburn on Sept. 6 at the Justice Center in Daytona Beach. If convicted of the felony animal cruelty charges, Demchick could be sentenced to up to five years in state prison. He is represented by an attorney with the Public Defender's Office.
About the Byline Writer: Henry Frederick is a member of the working press and publisher of Headline Surfer, the award-winning 24/7 internet news outlet launched in 2008, that serves greater Daytona Beach, Sanford & Orlando from Lake Mary, Florida via HeadlineSurfer.com. Frederick has amassed close to 150 award-winning bylines in print & online. He earned his Master of Arts in New Media Journalism from Full Sail University in 2019. He was a breaking news reporter (metro cops & courts beat) for the Daytona Beach News-Journal for nearly a decade. And Before that worked the same beat for The Journal-News/Gannett Suburban Newspapers in Rockland/Westchester counties, NY, dating back to 1989. Having witnessed the execution of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Florida's death chamber and covering other high-profile cases such as the George Zimmerman murder trial, Frederick has appeared on national crime documentary shows on Discovery ID, Reelz, and the Oxygen Network series "Snapped" for his analysis. AWJ: