BOSTON -- The Persian cat breeder who rented a Beacon Hill apartment where inspectors say they found 60 dead cats earlier this week failed to show up for a hearing Thursday.
NewsCenter 5's Lynn Jolicoeur reported that only city employees testified in the hearing to determine whether Heidi Erickson's apartment should remain condemned.
The city said it has been battling with Erickson about her Charles Street apartment since December, when neighbors complained about an odor. At one point, a judge ruled she wasn't creating a nuisance and closed the case, but neighbors recently complained about seeing a sickly Great Dane.
Police officers saw the dog and entered the apartment, where they said they found the remains of 60 cats.
"It was a heavy, foul odor coming from the kitchen," city inspector Edward Kennedy said. "Upon further investigation, we found in the fridge and freezers 60 cats, kittens and newborns. We also found the apartment was filled with garbage, debris, animal feces, urine. The egress was blocked by debris."
Frank Nahigian was Erickson's former landlord when she lived in a Cambridge apartment. He said he had similar problems with odors and had difficulty evicting her.
"My guess is she came from a wealthy family and so she was brought up properly," Nahigian said. "Something went wrong someplace, and she's the person she is today."
Inspectors said they said also found dozens of different animal medications and syringes in the apartment
The hearing officer will have seven days to decide whether to uphold the condemnation of the apartment. If he does, Erickson will be ordered to bring the apartment up to code. If she doesn't, the landlord would have to, and he could seek damages from Erickson in court.
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