Tammy Hanson Back in Baxter County Arkansas
After more than 3 ½ years since she was convicted in Baxter County District Court of numerous counts of cruelty to animals, then having fled the jurisdiction of the court to in an attempt to escape from her punishment, Tammy Christine Hanson, 42 years of age, has finally been returned to Baxter County, Arkansas to face sentencing on those charges. Tammy Christine Hanson and her husband, William Hanson, were operating the EDNAH (Every Dog Needs A Home) pet sanctuary in Gamaliel, Arkansas in late 2005 when Baxter County Sheriff’s deputies executed a search warrant there and founds hundreds of dogs in deplorable, unsanitary, and cruel conditions. A lengthy follow-up that included an investigation and prolonged care for the animals was undertaken. At the time it was believed to be the largest animal cruelty case in the United States. (click here for photos of the EDNAH Compound)
After Hanson’s disappearance, the Sheriff’s Office received and followed up on many citizen tips as to her whereabouts. Tammy Hanson was finally located and arrested in Caledonia County, Vermont on July 18, 2009 on outstanding failure to appear warrants from both Baxter County, Arkansas and Lawrence County, Missouri. (click here for TV news story) She had been held in custody since then without bond while she attempted to fight extradition to prevent her return to Arkansas. Immediately following Tammy Hanson’s arrest in Vermont, the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office and Prosecuting Attorney Ron Kincade began taking steps to secure a Governor’s Requisition Warrant from Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe, even though the Baxter County warrant was only for a misdemeanor offense. Arkansas authorities began coordinating and working closely with Sheriff Michael Bergeron of Caledonia County, Vermont and Vermont State’s Attorney Ben Luna to secure the return of Hanson to Arkansas. While it is a rare occurrence for a person to be extradited from out of state on misdemeanor charges, such action is allowed and permitted under the law. William Hanson was present with Tammy Hanson at the time of her arrest, but he was not taken into custody at that time.
The Arkansas Governor’s Warrant was issued on July 31, 2009 and delivered to Vermont Governor Jim Douglas. Tammy Hanson was subsequently served with the Governor’s Warrant, but she continued her struggle to prevent extradition by filing various motions and petitions for writs of habeas corpus in Vermont. On September 21, 2009, Vermont Judge Kathleen M. Manley issued orders that permitted Tammy Hanson to be picked up by Baxter County authorities and returned to Arkansas.
Although there was a slight possibility that Hanson could possibly be granted yet another reprieve if she filed additional motions, Sheriff Montgomery decided on September 23rd to make arrangements to send a deputy to Vermont to take custody of Tammy Hanson. Arrangements were made for Deputy Sheriff Julie Tilley to fly out of St. Louis, Missouri into Burlington, Vermont by commercial air service, then pick up Tammy Hanson and return to Arkansas with her.
Deputy Tilley took custody of Tammy Hanson at approximately 3:30 AM this morning from her place of detention at the Northwest State Correctional Facility in Franklin County, Vermont and was successful in returning her to Arkansas. Deputy Tilley and Tammy Hanson flew out of Burlington, Vermont at approximately 6:00 AM this morning on Delta Airlines en route back to Arkansas. Tammy Hanson was delivered to the Baxter County Detention Center at approximately 7:30 PM this evening, where she is incarcerated and is being held without bond pending further appearances before Baxter County District Judge Van Gearhart. When Tammy Hanson appears for sentencing at a yet to be determined date, she faces being confined in the Detention Center for up to one (1) year in addition to fines and restitution relating to expenses involved with the clean-up of the EDNAH compound, care of the animals found there, as well as travel and extradition expenses.
Tammy Hanson’s husband, William Hanson, currently remains in custody in Johnson County, Missouri on an outstanding misdemeanor failure to appear warrant from Baxter County District Court. He was arrested there on September 22, 2009 after citizen tips again lead law enforcement to his whereabouts. William Hanson has refused to waive extradition, and Baxter County authorities are prepared to begin formal extradition proceedings against him as well.
The Baxter County Sheriff’s Office wants to extend its sincere thanks and appreciation to all persons, officials, and organizations that were involved in the original situation at the EDNAH compound and who have contributed throughout the last 3 ½ years to our efforts to locate Tammy Hanson and William Hanson and bring them back to Baxter County to face justice.
/s/ John F. Montgomery
Baxter County Sheriff
