Marathon Animal Shelter Reopened Saturday After Being Closed for Three Days Due to Stalker

MARATHON – The Marathon branch of the Florida Keys Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals reopened Saturday after being shut down since late Wednesday due to safety concerns caused by a man who stalked the facility and threatened its workers and law enforcement after 19 of his animals were seized by Animal Control.

Raymond Geisel, 30, was arrested Thursday on two felony counts for threatening a public official and for stalking Animal Control, and a misdemeanor charge for stalking. The animals (a German Sheppard, four cats, five turtles and nine iguanas) had been seized due to deplorable living conditions on a sailboat anchored in Boot Key Harbor.

Geisel originally was given a $15,000 jail bond. On Friday night, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission added 77 misdemeanor charges on various captive wildlife violations, animal cruelty charges and nuisance injurious to public health charges. His bond was increased by $36,000. Geisel, who served 16 months in federal prison for threatening the lives in 2008 of then-presidential candidate Barack Obama and President George W. Bush, remains at the Stock Island Detention Center.

With Geisel remaining in jail, increased patrols and added surveillance security at the animal shelter, and a court stalking injunction that Geisel must stay away from the shelter and its workers, Florida Keys SPCA Executive Director Tammy Fox determined it was safe to reopen the shelter.

“The nature of animal welfare is often emotionally charged so we are accustomed to situations that require awareness and self-fortification,” Fox said. “This situation put us at a higher alert. Out of safety for our staff and animals we closed the shelter while we worked with law enforcement. We have also increased Sheriff’s Office patrols by the campus and installed video surveillance that is watched around the clock.”

It all began on Wednesday when officers went to the sailboat to do a wellness check on Geisel’s wife, Susanne Kynast, 43. The officers found deplorable conditions. They took Kynast into protective custody under the Baker Act and they seized a German Sheppard. The officers returned with Animal Control and backup in case Geisel was aboard. Upon approaching the vessel, officers could smell foul odors from about 40-50 feet away.

The officers documented the presence of excessive layers of feces surrounding the exterior deck of the vessel. There were thigh-to-waste-high levels of untreated garbage, including blood, urine, feces and vomit that stained couch cushions and garments. Below deck there was an infestation of flies and maggots and an intolerable amount of ammonia levels. Officers could spend no more than a few seconds below deck without respirators, according to the Sheriff’s Office report.

Below deck, trapped within these deplorable conditions, officers found four cats – the same place they found the dog the day before. Topside and in the direct sunlight, they found nine iguanas and five turtles, with rotten food and spoiled water, and living in a 3- to 4-inch layer of depressed feces in and below their cages. All reptiles, when kept as personal pets, are required to be cared for in accordance with captive wildlife law. All 19 animals were seized and turned over to Monroe County Animal Control.

Kynast was arrested Thursday on 73 misdemeanor counts, including five different captive wildlife violations per reptile onboard the vessel, numerous animal cruelty charges, multiple nuisances injurious to public health charges and derelict vessel charges.

The Marathon shelter now is housing 104 animals: 71 cats, 12 dogs, 9 iguanas, 5 turtles, 4 rabbits and 3 chickens. “Now would be a good time to come by and adopt an animal,” Fox said.

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