Investigators say five pit bull mixes were found decomposing in a parking lot in June. The dogs showed no external injuries, and investigators determined their deaths were consistent with heat exposure.

A Henrico County man and woman have been arrested and face 40 indictments in connection with the deaths of five dogs discovered in a Varina-area parking lot this summer, authorities said.

Deric Rashawn Beale, 41, and Barbara Frances Jones, 53, both of Henrico, were arrested Sept. 17 following a Henrico County grand jury hearing, according to Henrico police.

The case began June 10, when Henrico Animal Protection Officers were called to the 6200 block of Monahan Road shortly before 9 a.m. for a report of a suspicious animal death.

When officers arrived, they found five dogs in various stages of decomposition at the far end of a parking lot, police said. The dogs appeared to be pit bull mixes.

Officers took the animals to the Henrico Police Animal Shelter, where they conducted necropsies. Investigators said none of the dogs had visible external injuries.

The necropsies determined that the cause of death for all five dogs was consistent with an environmental factor, including heat, police said.

The investigation eventually expanded beyond the initial discovery, involving Henrico’s Animal Protection Unit, patrol officers and detectives from several units within the department’s Criminal Investigations Section.

Henrico Police Chief Eric D. English said investigators revisited previous calls for service involving Beale and Jones dating back to December 2025.

Investigators also reviewed digital evidence from those earlier incidents and re-interviewed people who had previously interacted with the couple, English said.

“This investigation required re-interviewing multiple individuals connected to previous calls for service involving Mr. Beale and Ms. Jones dating back to December 2025,” English said. “Officers also conducted a thorough review of digital evidence from those incidents and leveraged resources and expertise across the Police Division to help advance the investigation.”

Police did not release details about the specific charges underlying the 40 indictments.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Detective E. Wright at police@henrico.gov. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 804-780-1000 or through P3tips.com.