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A Florida woman has been arrested after allegedly leaving two dogs in a storage unit without food, water, or air conditioning, resulting in their deaths. Alexia Veronica Barquet, 21, of Bunnell, was taken into custody on July 19, 2026, after police discovered the bodies of two deceased female Labradors.
The deaths were discovered after a foul odor was reported coming from the storage facility. Barquet now faces multiple charges, including two counts of aggravated animal cruelty involving excessive pain or death.
Florida Woman Arrested for Animal Cruelty After Dogs Found Dead in Storage Unit
According to the Bunnell Police Department, officers were called to Moore Space and Storage in the 500 block of East Court Street around 9:44 a.m. on July 19, 2026. A woman who rented a storage unit next to Barquet’s had called police. The caller said she was worried because she usually heard dogs barking from Barquet’s unit, but they had suddenly gone quiet.
The woman also reported noticing a foul smell coming from the unit. When authorities arrived, they called Barquet, who said the odor might be coming from dog food, as she had recently unplugged a mini-fridge. However, police asked her to unlock the unit. Once they stepped inside, they found the bodies of two female Labrador retrievers: 5-year-old Ava and 2-year-old Karma.
Additionally, police found feces, trash, and debris throughout the unit. They also discovered that there was no adequate food or water in the dogs’ dishes. Although a portable cooling unit was running inside the storage unit, it was not producing cool air. According to the arrest document, the temperature inside was about 96 degrees, similar to the temperature outside.
Police discovered Karma’s body near the door, while Ava’s body had been wrapped in a plastic bag. Upon questioning, Barquet told officers that she had last checked on Karma on July 17, 2026, and given her food and water. Meanwhile, Ava had already died, so she placed her body in a plastic bag.
Barquet Faces Multiple Charges
Barquet has been charged with two felony counts of aggravated animal cruelty involving excessive pain or death and two misdemeanor counts of confinement or abandonment of animals without adequate food, water, exercise, or air. She was arrested on the spot and booked into the Flagler County Jail.
However, she posted a $6,000 bond just three hours later and was released. As for why she did not check on her pets, Barquet told police that she had a baby last month and was suffering from postpartum depression. However, authorities noted that she had been warned about animal cruelty previously as well.
In March 2026, an animal control officer had ordered her not to leave the dogs overnight in the storage unit. Emphasizing the importance of treating animals with care, Bunnell Police Chief David Brannon said, “Animal cruelty has no place in Bunnell, and our department maintains zero tolerance for anyone who abuses, neglects, or abandons an animal.”
“When someone violates this fundamental duty and causes suffering or death, our officers will investigate thoroughly, follow the evidence, and relentlessly pursue full accountability under Florida law,” Brannon added.
