By Tyler Rothwell
The owner of the Natural Bridge Zoo and four others were indicted by a grand jury this week on animal cruelty and forgery charges, according to online court records.
Since Oct. 29, owner Gretchen Mogensen had been serving a 100-day sentence in connection with two missing giraffes. Mogensen was scheduled to be released Friday, but online court records show she is now in custody on the new charges filed against her.
Former owners, Karl and Deborah Mogensen were also arrested Tuesday, but have been released on bail, according to court records.
Gretchen, Karl, and Deborah Mogensen face a combined 56 charges, including animal cruelty and forging public records. Former elephant trainer Mark Easley faces three charges – including one count of animal torture – and Ashley Spencer, a veterinarian, faces four counts of forging public records.
The next court hearings for all three Mogensens are scheduled for Feb. 17, according to online court records. Easley has been released on bail and Spencer is listed as a fugitive.
A message left by the Rockbridge Report for an attorney who has represented the Mogensens in the past was not immediately returned Friday. Online court records did not list attorneys for any of the five accused.
On Jan. 26, a Virginia appellate court denied an appeal made by Karl and Deborah Mogensen that raised four issues, most notably the forfeiture of 71 animals. Their appeal stemmed from a six-day trial in March 2024 when a jury found that those 71 animals were being cruelly treated.
Rockbridge County supplied the appellate court with thousands of photographs displaying injuries caused to the animals, including a Burmese python, tortoises, capuchins, tamarins, macaws, giraffes, one mini-donkey, and a dog. Most of the injuries were caused due to unsafe enclosures, according to court records.