A Sussex County grand jury has indicted five people in connection with the abandonment of more than 40 small dogs across the county earlier this year, a case that prompted a large-scale search effort and drew statewide attention.

The defendants are Joshua Ciemniecki, 19, of Phillipsburg; Kaila McNeill, 30, of Stewartsville; Francis Ciemniecki, 72, of Phillipsburg; Cynthia Ciemniecki, 50, of Phillipsburg; and Robert Ciemniecki, 74, of Phillipsburg.

The Nov. 5 indictment charges the group with various counts of animal cruelty and conspiracy. McNeill and Cynthia Ciemniecki also face charges related to alleged evidence tampering.

According to the Sussex County Prosecutor's Office, the defendants abandoned dogs in Stillwater, Lafayette and Wantage townships on March 16 as severe weather moved through the region. Authorities said about 34 dogs were recovered alive, several died and at least five remained unaccounted for.

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Prosecutors allege the dogs were transported in a Dodge Durango and a rented U-Haul before being abandoned without food, water or shelter. The indictment further alleges Cynthia Ciemniecki and Kaila McNeill conspired to delete cellphone video evidence after the abandonments.

The defendants are scheduled to be arraigned Nov. 16 in Sussex County Superior Court.