RV manufacturer Jayco says a “false statement” in a charging document against three of its former employees made the company look bad. The case involving the three RV workers stemmed from a horrific incident earlier this year when two stray cats were deliberately killed in a Jayco plant trash compactor. The cats in the compactor case raises more questions.
The case drew public attention in February when reports surfaced that three Jayco employees—John Lipscomb, Travis McKay, and Arlin Hochstetler—had placed two live cats into a trash compactor. The incident happened on February 27. Police were called to the scene that day, and later, all three men were formally charged with two counts each of torturing or mutilating a vertebrate animal, a Level 6 felony under Indiana law.
Cats in the compactor probable cause document paints Jayco in bad light
According to the probable cause documents, the three workers were dealing with a problem of stray cats on the company’s property. John Lipscomb told police he placed two cats into a microwave box and taped it shut. Travis McKay and Arlin Hochstetler then allegedly put the box—with the cats still alive—into a trash compactor.
McKay later told police that local animal shelters were full and that he believed he could “take care of” the problem himself. Hochstetler said he and Lipscomb did not want the cats to suffer but felt the animals were a nuisance that needed to be removed.
Despite the claims of good intentions, both cats were still alive when placed in the compactor.
According to an affidavit to show probable cause, Middlebury police Patrolman Yutzy swore under oath that he responded to the Jayco plant in Middlebury on February 24. After outlining his contacts with the three defendants, Yutzy then makes this statement:
“Ptl. Yutzy spoke with Devon Miller, the vice president of operations at Jayco, who indicated he believed the men acted in the company’s best interest by placing the live cats into the trash compactor.”
Copies of the charging affidavits can be seen here, here, and here. (pdf documents)
Prosecutor does a double-take
The initial police report identifies the man as Devon Yoder. That error was considered minor, and was corrected to show Devon Miller. But it caught the attention of the prosecutor, who dug a little deeper.
If a Jayco management team member really did suggest that compacting cats was “in the company’s best interest,” it would cast a serious pall on Jayco’s reputation. Jayco reacted strongly to the suggestion.
Jayco’s strong reaction
An official statement on the matter from Jayco has been released. “After investigating the quote attributed to Devon Miller, Vice President of Operations in the charging materials filed against the three former Jayco employees, it is apparent that Mr. Miller has been misquoted. Mr. Miller adamantly denies making the statement attributed to him in the affidavit. Jayco has requested the original file materials from the Middlebury Police Department in the hopes to better understand how Mr. Miller’s words were twisted so grotesquely between the time he cooperated with authorities in February to the time the false quote was included in the charging affidavit in June.”
Prosecutors now side with Jayco. In a public statement, they clarified that “no evidence documented in the police investigation suggests that Mr. Miller endorsed, or approved of, the decisions or the behaviors of the three employees.”
Just how the statement that a Jayco manager supported the cats in the compactor action got into the affidavit was never clarified.
Case dropped—but could be reopened
In any event, the prosecutor has now dropped the case against the three men originally charged with the crime. Although the charges were dropped, that doesn’t mean the men are cleared of wrongdoing. Because the case was dismissed “without prejudice,” prosecutors can refile charges after additional investigation. The motion to dismiss was filed before any of the three were arrested.
The case remains open, and prosecutors are continuing to review the situation. The focus now seems to be on clearing up the confusion around what Jayco’s leadership did or did not say and whether any company officials supported the incident.
The outcome of that review will likely determine whether the charges will be brought back.
For now, the public and animal welfare advocates will have to wait to see how the the cats in the compactor case develops. While the facts of what happened are deeply upsetting to many, the legal system must be sure it has its details straight—especially when it comes to statements made by witnesses or company leaders.
The Elkhart County Prosecutor’s Office has not given a timeline for when a decision might be made about refiling the charges.
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