From December Incident to Separate Trials: A Timeline of the Salina Animal Services Case and What Comes Next

The two former Salina Animal Services managers charged with animal cruelty will be tried separately this November after a Saline County District Court judge granted motions to sever their cases Aug. 28.

The ruling separates the criminal proceedings against Monique Marie Hawley, former Animal Services manager, and Andrea Lyn Murphy, former operations superintendent. Each faces three misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals.

The cases had previously been scheduled for a joint jury trial Sept. 8–10. Following the severance ruling, separate trial dates have now been placed on the Saline County District Court calendar.

Murphy's jury trial is scheduled for Nov. 9, 10, 12 and 13.

Hawley's jury trial is scheduled for Nov. 16–19.

Before either case reaches trial, however, the court has several defense motions still to consider, beginning with a request to disqualify the Saline County Attorney's Office from prosecuting the cases.

Recusal Motion Will Be Heard First

A hearing on the defense motion seeking to disqualify Saline County Attorney John Reynolds and his office is scheduled for Sept. 23 at 9 a.m.

The defense has asked that the Saline County Attorney's Office be removed from the prosecution and that a special prosecutor be appointed or the matter be referred to another prosecuting authority.

The motion alleges a conflict involving Linda Reynolds, the county attorney's spouse, based on her alleged involvement with materials associated with Justice for Shelter Animals.

Those allegations are arguments made by the defense and have not been established as findings by the court.

Judge Jared Swisher is scheduled to hear the recusal motion before the remaining motions. The order of the hearings allows the prosecution issue to be resolved first because, if the Saline County Attorney's Office is disqualified, another prosecutor could be assigned before the court addresses the remaining motions.

The court has scheduled a hearing on the other pending motions for Oct. 2 at 9 a.m.

Those include the defense request to move the trials outside Saline County based on arguments that publicity and public discussion surrounding the Animal Services controversy could make it difficult to seat an impartial local jury.

No decision has yet been made on whether the trials will remain in Saline County.

Updated Court Timeline

Dec. 16, 2025 — Three puppies euthanized

Three puppies that tested positive for parvovirus are euthanized at Salina Animal Services. The circumstances later become the subject of a criminal investigation.

Dr. Melissa Juby later tells Salina311 that after learning what had been reported to her, she contacted shelter officials within approximately an hour and directed that staff temporarily stop performing euthanasia.

Jan. 12, 2026 — State inspection

A state inspection of Salina Animal Services results in an unsatisfactory rating. City officials later say the inspection raised issues involving euthanasia procedures and documentation, employee training and other shelter practices but did not specifically identify the three Dec. 16 puppies.

Feb. 11 — Outside operation discussed

The Animal Control and Appeals Advisory Board recommends that city commissioners consider seeking proposals from an independent operator for the shelter.

March 6 — Salina311 interviews Dr. Melissa Juby

Juby discusses the Dec. 16 incident, euthanasia protocols and the actions she said she took after learning what had occurred.

March 17 — Follow-up inspection

A subsequent state inspection results in a satisfactory rating.

March 23 — City Commission study session

Commissioners and city staff publicly review the Dec. 16 incident and broader Animal Services concerns. Commissioners discuss both an outside shelter operator and an independent operational assessment and decide to pursue the assessment first.

March 31 — Assessment RFP issued

The city seeks proposals for an independent operational assessment covering shelter operations, animal care, leadership, finances, veterinary services and other areas.

April 2026 — Criminal charges filed

Hawley and Murphy are each charged with three counts of cruelty to animals related to the Dec. 16 incident.

May 11 — Consultant hired

The Salina City Commission votes 4-1 to hire Animal Shelter Services LLC for $30,000 to conduct an independent operational assessment.

June 1 — Not-guilty pleas entered

A judge enters not-guilty pleas on behalf of Hawley and Murphy. A joint jury trial is initially scheduled for Sept. 8–10.

June 30 — Defense motions filed

Defense attorneys file motions seeking a change of venue and disqualification of the Saline County Attorney's Office.

July 13 — Immediate RFP motion fails

Commissioner Doug Rempp moves to immediately seek an outside shelter operator. The motion dies for lack of a second.

July 27 — Commission authorizes RFP development

Commissioners vote 3-1 to direct staff to develop an RFP for operation of the animal shelter. The vote begins the process of considering an outside operator but does not itself privatize Animal Services.

Aug. 7 — Shelter operations RFP issued

The city formally seeks proposals from public, nonprofit and private entities interested in operating the shelter.

Aug. 14 — Independent assessment released

The city releases the Animal Services operational assessment. The report identifies substantial concerns involving leadership, sanitation, disease control, training, safety, policies, facility conditions and animal welfare.

The assessment examines the overall Animal Services operation and does not determine criminal responsibility in the cases against Hawley or Murphy.

Aug. 28 — Judge orders separate trials

The court grants the defendants' motions to sever the cases, ending plans for a joint September jury trial.

Sept. 10 — Animal Services proposals due

Proposals from organizations interested in operating Salina Animal Services are due to the city. The City Commission will determine how to proceed after the submissions are reviewed.

Sept. 23 at 9 a.m. — Reynolds recusal motion

Judge Jared Swisher is scheduled to consider the defense request to disqualify Saline County Attorney John Reynolds and his office.

That issue will be considered before the other pending motions so the question of who will prosecute the cases can be resolved first. If the motion is granted, another prosecutor could be assigned.

Oct. 2 at 9 a.m. — Remaining motions

The court is scheduled to consider the other pending defense motions, including the request to move the trials outside Saline County.

Nov. 9, 10, 12 and 13 — Murphy trial

Andrea Murphy is scheduled for a four-day jury trial.

Nov. 16–19 — Hawley trial

Monique Hawley is scheduled for a separate four-day jury trial.

What Comes Next

The Aug. 28 severance ruling means the criminal proceedings are now moving on two separate tracks.

The first major question will come Sept. 23, when Judge Swisher considers whether the Saline County Attorney's Office may continue prosecuting the cases.

If the defense motion is denied, Reynolds' office can continue with the prosecution. If the court grants the request for disqualification, another prosecutor could be assigned before the remaining motions are considered.

The court is then scheduled to address the other pending motions Oct. 2, including the request to move the trials out of Saline County.

Unless subsequent court orders alter the schedule, Murphy will go to trial first, beginning Nov. 9, followed one week later by Hawley on Nov. 16.

At the same time, a separate process is continuing outside the courtroom. The City of Salina is reviewing the future of Animal Services following the independent consultant's assessment and is seeking proposals from organizations interested in operating the shelter.

Those processes should remain distinct.

The independent assessment, state inspections and city's consideration of an outside operator concern the management and operation of Salina Animal Services. They do not determine whether Hawley or Murphy committed the criminal offenses alleged by prosecutors.

Likewise, the pending motions concerning the prosecutor and trial location are procedural questions for the court and do not determine either defendant's guilt or innocence.

The charges against Hawley and Murphy are allegations. Both have pleaded not guilty and are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.