A Florida mother arrested over allegations that she engaged in a sexual act with the family dog has denied the accusation, with her friends claiming she was set up by her estranged husband.
Malia Nummerdor, 38, was arrested on September 15 in Port Charlotte and charged with sexual activity involving an animal, a second-degree felony under Florida law. She has since been released.
According to an arrest affidavit, Nummerdor’s estranged husband, Erik Nummerdor, told the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office that he discovered footage allegedly showing his wife engaging in sexual activity with their dog, Ranger.
Erik said he had installed two security cameras in the home while trying to determine who had been taking money from a coin container. He told investigators that the cameras were visible and known to members of the household.
While reviewing recordings from a bedroom camera, he allegedly discovered footage involving Nummerdor and the dog. He provided screenshots to investigators and gave them access to a laptop containing the recordings. Police said the footage provided corroboration beyond Erik’s account.
When questioned by police, Nummerdor denied engaging in any sexual conduct with the animal. According to the arrest report, she said she had been lying with and petting her elderly dog near its bed.
Police said she later acknowledged that she was the woman shown in the footage and that the dog belonged to her, but investigators said she could not provide a consistent explanation of what was captured on camera.
Nummerdor also reportedly told investigators that Erik had installed cameras without her knowledge and had previously threatened her with the recordings. The allegations have not been adjudicated in court.
Following her arrest, friends launched an online fundraiser on September 21 to help Nummerdor and her two sons with legal and living expenses.
The fundraiser said Nummerdor maintains that the allegations are untrue and that the family had been displaced from their home. It stressed that the campaign was not asking supporters to determine the facts of the case, but to help her obtain legal representation and support her children while the matter goes through the legal process.
Nummerdor remains entitled to due process, and the allegations against her have not been established as fact.
