Couple Plants Dead Animals to Sabotage Neighbor's Home Sale, Police Say

A Haverford couple was cited for disorderly conduct on Thursday after Lower Merion Police say they threw dead animals in their next-door neighbors' yard in an apparent attempt to sabotage the sale of their Booth Lane home.

The couple that was charged, Andrea and Jonathan Straub, are both realtors in the area and have their home on the market as well, according to police.

According to Officer JoAnne Pepitone, the owner of the home that was vandalized has been in the hospital for several weeks, but was informed by her house sitter that someone was knocking over the "for sale" signs in the yard and stealing flyers advertising the property.

Pepitone said security cameras were then installed in the home, which clearly showed the Straubs, aged 40 and 34, kicking over the signs, placing dead mice and snakes in the driveway, cutting branches from trees, and otherwise damaging the property.

Pepitone said the house sitter showed police the footage and added that the Straubs, after they were confronted by police, just shrugged and confessed to the vandalism.

"They said they thought the signs were tacky," Pepitone explained.

While the Straubs face minor charges, at least one animal rights group expressed outrage at their actions.

Steven Conway, a humane educator with the Montgomery County SPCA, said the couple showed an appalling lack of respect for animal life.

“Clearly this is heinous behavior," Conway told Patch.