San Luis Obispo County Animal Services is currently investigating a crime against animals case after they found 40 dead and 6 live cats in an apartment.

The apartment was red-tagged after animal services discovered the cats’ remains.

A neighbor of The Presidio apartment complex, Leo Sharon, was horrified to hear the news.

“It’s just sad. How can you have so many cats and let them die there?” Sharon said.

One apartment tenant, Mary Lumsden, said she got her cat Lily from former tenant under investigation for animal cruelty, Laurie Bryant.

“One of (the cats) is Lily’s mom and the other is Lily’s aunt,” Lumsden said, “I know she had those two. They mostly lived outside. They didn’t come in very often.”

Lumsden has lived in the complex for 14 years, but said the former tenant in Unit 4 moved out last year.

“He moved in a year ago in October,” Lumsden said.

Laurie Bryant did not return our calls.

Laurie’s mother, Jacqueline Bryant, responded but declined to go on the record with any information about her daughter.

According to a recent statement from the SLO County News, a local news Facebook group, Laurie Bryant has stepped down as moderator during this time.

The Paso Robles Police Department said no arrests have been made.

District Attorney Dan Dow added that this case has not yet been sent to his office for review. However, he said a person convicted of animal cruelty faces up to 3 years in county jail.