Chandler woman, accused of animal neglect / abuse: Court date postponed again

A status conference for a Chandler woman facing 77 criminal misdemeanor charges has been postponed again as she continues to be held in jail and as her state cases progress in Superior Court.

Sydney McKinley, also known as April McLaughlin, is now scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, in Courtroom 3 at the Chandler Municipal Court, 200 E. Chicago St., downtown Chandler, for her next status conference.

The defense and prosecution mutually agreed to the latest in what have been several postponements since early 2024. A status conference is an opportunity for the defendant and the defendant's attorney to meet with the prosecutor.

McKinley was charged with dozens of neglect and other charges by the Marciopa County attorney, in addition to Chandler misdemeanor charges, shortly after her September 2023 arrest that occurred followed a search warrant served at her Chandler home.

Last year, the county attorney added grand-jury indictements for fraud, theft from a vulnerable adult and other charges.

The most recent item shown on McKinley's county Superior Court case information is a July 15 vacated trial date.

The city even set up a webpage explaining some of the cases and circumstances around the discoveries of McKinley's animal situation, found by clicking here. 

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