Former Wrightstown Woman Enters Diversionary Program In Animal Abuse Case

Ahead of a pretrial conference planned for Wednesday, a former Wrightstown Township farmer pleaded guilty and entered a special program for those charged with crimes.

Abigail Tuttle O’Keeffe, 55, pleaded guilty late last month to nine charges, including aggravated cruelty to animals resulting in serious injury or death and animal neglect, according to court records first reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Court of Common Pleas Senior Judge Rea Boylan accepted O’Keeffe into Bucks County’s Wellness Court.

As part of the conditions set by Boylan, O’Keeffe is barred from owning animals, must abstain from drugs and alcohol, has to take all prescribed medications, and is required to undergo treatment for mental health and substance abuse. Compliance with the program allows her to avoid time behind bars.

O’Keeffe was charged in late 2024 with 149 counts related to animal cruelty and neglect following an investigation into her farm along Worthington Mill Road in Wrightstown Township.

Bucks County SPCA police launched the probe in August 2024 after receiving reports from workers and volunteers regarding conditions on the property.

Although O’Keeffe initially refused direct contact with investigators, police said she surrendered her animals to the SPCA via text message on Aug. 7, 2024, according to court papers.

Rescuers and law enforcement described finding a makeshift composting site with decaying animal carcasses on the property, which was called Narrow Way Farm.

Rescuers removed more than 100 animals, including goats, sheep, pigs, steer, and chickens, which suffered from severe malnutrition and heavy parasitic loads after being denied veterinary care and fed substandard by-products, authorities said.

Some animals were rehomed, but others required extensive medical treatment or euthanasia, officials said.

When SPCA authorities issued an arrest warrant in the final hours of 2024, O’Keeffe was living in Central America.

After an April 2024 arrest in Belize on an unrelated firearm charge, a joint operation involving the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Department of State, and INTERPOL Washington led to her extradition.

Members of a fugitive task force apprehended O’Keeffe in Belmopan, Belize, and brought her to Philadelphia in September 2025 before transferring her to Bucks County custody, authorities said.

Search warrants executed at the home by Newtown Township police yielded firearms, suspected marijuana, and THC or CBD oil. However, O’Keeffe was not charged for those items and is not accused of wrongdoing concerning that part of the investigation.

Defense attorney Josh Buchanan, who previously stated O’Keeffe intended to defend herself in court, did not comment on the resolution, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

O’Keeffe’s former 36-acre farm sold last November for just over $1.1 million, according to records.