Page County Woman Sentenced in 'Rosie' Animal Abuse Case
LURAY, Va. — A Shenandoah woman will serve time in prison for abuse that resulted in the death of a pet dog.
After a yearlong case that drew widespread attention from animal advocates, Sarah Beth Maiden appeared in Page County Circuit Court on Wednesday to learn her fate.
A Call for Help
In late October 2024, the Page County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) launched an investigation into the welfare of a two-year-old German Shepherd following a citizen complaint.
Deputy Justin Corbin received photographs on October 24 showing an emaciated dog later identified as “Rosie.”
That evening, Corbin conducted a welfare check at a residence on Sixth Street in Shenandoah, where he found Rosie chained near a pool, severely underweight, with bones protruding through her skin. No food or water bowls were visible.
Maiden, Rosie’s owner, told the deputy the dog had stopped eating and drinking, but claimed that Rosie had been up and walking around just two days prior.
She went on to explain that her suspended driver’s license had prevented her from taking Rosie to a veterinarian.
Corbin ordered Maiden to find a way to immediately transport the animal to Veterinary Emergency Services in Verona.
That evening, Rosie had finally arrived for treatment.
During a follow-up call, Veterinarian Dr. Evyman Prado-Sanchez informed Corbin that Rosie weighed just 35 pounds.
She said Rosie’s condition was consistent with malnutrition or neglect, and that the only options were costly treatment or humane euthanasia.
Rosie was euthanized.
The dog’s story quickly spread via social media. Her final photos, showing her in a shockingly emaciated state, were shared hundreds of times on Facebook alone.
Maiden soon faced substantial public outrage. Local citizens and animal rights groups fueled demands for her accountability.
Charges Filed
Maiden was initially charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor, but after the formal public outcry and mounting case evidence, the charge was elevated to a Class 6 felony under Virginia Code § 3.2-6570.
At a February 2025 preliminary hearing, Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Armanda Clymer presented testimony from Deputy Corbin and Dr. Prado-Sanchez.
Protesters outside the courthouse carried “Justice for Rosie” signs and called for harsher penalties and stronger animal-protection laws.
Judge Kenneth L. Alger certified the case to go before a grand jury, which determined in March that sufficient evidence existed to proceed to trial.
The Trial
Jury selection began on the morning of September 10, 2025, with 12 members ultimately chosen from a pool of 80. Proceedings were held before Judge Clark A. Ritchie.
Clymer, assisted by associate [and now Commonwealth’s Attorney] Chapman Good, gave the jury a brief overview of the case, including how the welfare check on Rosie was initiated and the condition of the dog as documented by responding deputies.
Clymer told jurors they would hear what Maiden had said — and what she failed to say — about the dog’s care, noting, “What you’re not going to hear is her concern for the dog.”
Defense attorney Scott Hansen argued Rosie’s health problems stemmed from a tick-borne illness and not neglect.
Witnesses called to the stand included Maiden’s brother Jeremy, who confirmed fluctuations in Rosie’s weight but said he had never seen her as emaciated as she was in October.
As he had in previous court testimony, Deputy Corbin described finding Rosie motionless and unresponsive. Dr. Prado-Sanchez again testified that blood work showed signs of dehydration and starvation, not Lyme or any other disease.
On the witness stand, Maiden’s father, Jeffrey, stated he had heard of Rosie’s health struggles but had not seen her in severe decline. He also had no knowledge of the dog’s medical care.
When Maiden finally took the stand, she calmly described adopting Rosie in late 2023 and said the dog’s eating habits fluctuated, with periods of refusing food and drinking excessive amounts of water.
Maiden claimed she often added high-calorie foods to Rosie’s diet but, because of the demands of her own pregnancy, had sought to rehome the dog by late summer 2024. She said she had reached out to shelters and rescue groups but that no one wanted Rosie.
Under cross-examination, Maiden admitted she had not taken Rosie to a veterinarian — despite noting the dog’s significant weight loss.
Closing Arguments and Verdict
Hansen urged jurors to consider the lack of a necropsy after Rosie’s death and the possibility of untreated disease.
Clymer countered that photos, blood tests, and testimony proved Rosie’s decline was the result of neglect.
In less than an hour, jurors left the courtroom and returned with their verdict.
Maiden stood silently as Judge Ritchie read the determination.
Guilty.
A sentencing hearing was scheduled for mid-January.
Punishment
Maiden’s sentencing was held January 14, 2026, before the Honorable Clark A. Ritchie.
The nearly two-hour hearing included testimony from character witnesses, as well as statements from the defense and the prosecution.
Defense attorney Hansen argued that Maiden’s neglect of Rosie was “a sin of omission” rather than intentional animal abuse.
He said that during the period the dog was in her care, Maiden had been experiencing a “difficult pregnancy,” and emphasized her devotion to her family and lack of a criminal history.
According to Hansen, Maiden had already endured months of shame, embarrassment and threats from community members since the case became public.
Prosecutor Clymer said what Rosie endured was “incredibly inhumane,” adding that describing the abuse as a “crime of omission” did not make it any less cruel or horrific.
She recommended incarceration.
Maiden was given the opportunity to read a prepared statement before sentencing.
Voice quivering, she expressed regret.
“If I could go back in time, I would do things differently,” she said.
Maiden added that since her guilty verdict, her two older children had been removed from her primary care, and she feels she has learned her lesson.
“I stand before the court remorseful, humbled and changed,” she said.
When she was finished, the judge announced that the court would take a recess while he considered his sentencing decision.
Almost an hour later, Ritchie returned and directly addressed Maiden.
“Pets are a tremendous responsibility,” he began. “When we make the decision to get a pet, we make a commitment to care for it.
“Inaction can reveal intent as much as action.
“This case isn’t just about Rosie’s death. It’s about how she died.
“It’s clear you didn’t want this dog anymore.
“She languished in your backyard.
“Rosie died unwanted and effectively discarded. She could not plead for mercy. She was completely reliant on you.
“This animal was effectively killed by you and died alone.
“It’s unsettling and disturbing that you could have created this level of suffering and pain.”
Before making his final pronouncement, Judge Ritchie explained a major factor in his decision.
“For anyone else engaging in similar behavior,” he said, “a sentence that promotes deterrence is warranted.“
Arms folded, he looked sternly at Maiden as he issued her punishment.
Sarah Beth Maiden was sentenced to five years of penitentiary time, with three years and nine months suspended. She will physically serve one year and three months in prison. Ritchie also ordered mandatory substance abuse and mental health evaluations.
Following her release, Maiden will serve three years of supervised probation and complete 200 hours of community service. She is prohibited from owning companion animals.
Conclusion
As PSCO deputies moved to escort a visibly stunned Maiden from the courtroom, her attorney asked for “delayed reporting” — explaining that she wished to see her children one more time. Hansen assured the court that Maiden would report in two days to begin serving her sentence.
The judge flatly denied the request.
Maiden’s legs appeared to momentarily give out from under her.
Flanked by deputies, she regained her balance and was escorted from the courtroom.
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