Krystal Scott, a 24-year-old resident of Kokomo, has been ordered to serve 18 months in federal prison after admitting to violating the terms of her supervised release. This sentence will be followed by three years of additional supervision.
Scott was previously convicted in November 2021 under the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act. She had acquired dogs and cats online using an alias, pretending she wanted to adopt them, but instead tortured and killed the animals. She then posted videos online showing herself engaging in acts such as crushing, suffocating, impaling, or otherwise harming the animals. For these actions, Scott received a sentence of 30 months in federal prison and five years of supervised release.
After her release from prison in June 2023, Scott began serving her term of supervised release. However, at a revocation hearing on July 29, 2025, she admitted under oath to breaking several conditions of her release. One condition prohibited her from having non-incidental contact with animals.
On June 20, 2025, Indianapolis Animal Care Services responded to complaints that Scott was using the alias “Teal Serain” to answer Facebook ads aimed at reuniting lost pets with their owners. She used this alias to falsely claim ownership of a missing dog through one such ad—a tactic similar to what led to her original conviction. The individuals who posted the ad became suspicious and contacted law enforcement.
The dog acquired by Scott was not found. Witnesses reported finding a deceased dog at the homeless encampment where Scott was living; it had been placed in a trash bag with its stomach protruding from its body cavity.
Indianapolis Animal Care Services later discovered that Scott was residing in a U-Haul van along with twelve dogs and cats. The animals were dehydrated, malnourished, and living amid excessive fecal matter. Officers also detected the odor of decomposition inside the van but did not find any dead animals.
A search of Scott’s phone and Facebook account revealed that she belonged to at least twelve pet adoption groups online and had attempted to sell pelts she claimed came from exotic animals.
U.S. Attorney Wheeler expressed appreciation for Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany J. Preston’s work on prosecuting this case.
Residents in Indianapolis are encouraged to report animal neglect or abuse by submitting complaints through RequestIndy online or via its mobile app so Animal Care Officers can investigate efficiently; other reporting methods may result in delays.
