Liberty County authorities arrested 61-year-old Domingo Quintana after rescuers pulled a mother and three children from a pond Monday morning. The charge stems from the discovery of an emaciated cat locked inside a non–climate-controlled building on the property during the investigation.
Sheriff’s officials say the incident began when Quintana called 911 between 5:30 and 6:00 a.m., alleging his wife had attempted to drown their children in the pond.
Deputies found all four victims — the children were already out of the water, and the mother was unconscious with a faint heartbeat.
At the scene, investigators located a cat confined in a locked structure without food or water, prompting ruling the condition as neglect and leading to the animal cruelty charge.
The mother and one child remain in critical condition at Houston’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, while two of the children are in recovery.
Child Protective Services has taken custody of the children, and they are expected to enter foster care once medically cleared.
Authorities continue to investigate all aspects of the case, including the circumstances leading up to the pond incident.