In addition to Deborah, Karl and Gretchen Mogensen, two other individuals were also indicted by a Rockbridge County grand jury on Feb. 2 in connection to the treatment of animals at Natural Bridge Zoo.
Ashley Spencer, 39, of Rockbridge Baths, was indicted on four felony counts of forging a public document on Nov. 25, 2023.
The document in question is a form that was filed with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which Spencer signed, indicating that Asha, the zoo’s elephant, was shipped to Two Tails Ranch, a privately owned elephant ranch in Florida. Spencer was a veterinarian with Blue Ridge Animal Clinic who provided veterinary services to the zoo. Deborah and Gretchen Mogensen have also been charged with two counts of forging a public document each in relation to this form.
The other person facing charges in connection to the treatment of animals at the zoo is Mark Easley, 66, of Springfield, Mo., who served as Asha’s handler at the zoo.
Easley was indicted on three counts of animal cruelty in connection with his treatment of the elephant between May 8 and Sept. 29, 2023. In the search warrants obtained for the zoo prior to the seizure of the animals in December 2023, a confidential informant had provided a report regarding Asha’s treatment at the zoo, which included several alleged incidents of mistreatment by Easley. Easley also allegedly told the informant to “always jab them where the bone is close to the flesh. Make it count,” and “It is about authority. I’m not her friend, I’m her boss and you gain respect through fear.”
Daphna Nachminovitch, senior vice president of cruelty investigations for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), made a statement last week following the indictments against all five of the individuals, saying that the organization “applauds these indictments.”
She also said that the organization “remains deeply concerned about Asha the elephant, who is feared to be suffering in isolation in yet another decrepit roadside zoo,” as well as for the two baby giraffes that have still not been accounted for.
“PETA thanks the office of the Attorney General for its years-long pursuit of this case and urges everyone to avoid roadside zoos as if lives depend on it, because they do,” she concluded.
