Apartment manager responds to accusations over 40 dead cats, resigns from news group
Laurie Bryant of Paso Robles
Laurie Bryant responds to online criticism, supporters defend her
– Laurie Bryant of Paso Robles, founder of a popular local newsgroup on Facebook, resigned following recent criticism.
She is the manager of the Presidio Apartments in Paso Robles where in August authorities found a unit with 40 dead cats and piles of feces. The story broke this week as work crews were completing clean up of the unit. A member of the crew released disturbing photos and graphic descriptions of the scene at 1040 Chestnut St., Unit 4.
San Luis Obispo County Animal Services is investigating the incident and will forward its report to the district attorney. “I understand that people naturally have questions and concerns about the situation,” said Dr. Eric Anderson, the county’s animal services manager. “Unfortunately, because the investigation remains open I’m not able to provide any more details nor any specific information that would address those issues.”
Following news reports about the conditions at the apartment, Bryant has faced numerous attacks, accusations, and criticism on social media. “I’ve already had threats because of the article,” Bryant said in an interview Friday evening. “I’ve had people driving by my house and taking pictures. I feel right now that I am at risk.”
Bryant said she moved out of the building a year earlier and was unaware of the situation. She said she is working with authorities to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.
SLO County News group announced yesterday that Bryant resigned as an administrator:
We are saddened to announce that due to personal matters, Laurie Bryant has stepped down from her position with SLO County News. During this time, we will continue to only report facts. There is not and will continue to be no drama, accusations or derogatory comments allowed on this wall. As always, doing so will result in being banned from the group. We ask that all of our villagers continue to be respectful of each other on our page. We will continue to bring you breaking news facts. We thank Laurie for years of service and dedication. And we will continue to maintain the original vision inspired by SLOstringer. – Trisha Butcher, admin of SLO County News
Bryant notified admins that she was resigning on Sunday when she heard there was a story about the apartment coming out, she said.
“I’m stepping down because I’m obviously handling a situation right now, and I don’t want that wall [SLO County News] brought into the drama,” Bryant said. “It’s a good wall, with good information. I don’t want to hurt that wall. And I don’t want them to pay for it. I believe in the integrity of that wall,” she said.
“I am not stepping down because I am guilty of anything,” Bryant said. “I would never hurt an animal. I have nothing to hide. I just don’t want to be a distraction,” she said.
Bryant was raised in Paso Robles and graduated from Paso Robles High School in 1980, according to Alumniclass.com. Her family’s trust, the Jacquelin J. Bryant Trust, owns several properties in town.
She was a longtime Central Coast search and rescue team member and worked for years trying to help find Kristin Smart, a CalPoly San Luis Obispo student who went missing in 1996.
Bryant’s passion has been volunteering as a news stringer for about a decade. She follows local police and fire radio channels, taking photos of incidents and quickly filing reports.
In 2017 Bryant started a Facebook group, SLO County News And Public Safety. After some disagreements with other admins over moderation, she left and started SLO County News in May 2020.
The SLO County News group now has over 39,000 members. They post vehicle accidents, fires, rescues, road work, traffic alerts, weather reports, and more community news throughout the county. The group posts about 300 news briefs a month.
Current admins listed on the group are Trisha Butcher, Dawn Glove, Vanessa Queen, and Erin E. Smith, along with five other moderators.
Butcher said the article about the dead cats in the apartment created a “lynch mob mentality,“ against Bryant.
“She has spent her entire life giving to others,” Butcher said. “And now people are stalking her house, and I hold [Paso Robles Daily News] responsible. I prefer to share factual information and will do so when all the information comes out,” she said.
Sandee Hunt, one of the founding admins of the group, defended Bryant. “The group is Laurie’s vision inspired by SLO Stringer Matthew Frank,” she said.
“The brand is bigger than any one of us and serves our community at large and I commend her for stepping aside while she deals with this,” she said. Hunt stepped down from the group in 2022 because she started a career in public relations that caused a conflict of interest, she said.
“People don’t understand that the property owner will be responsible legally but aren’t necessarily responsible for the act that took place on the property,” she said.
“[Laurie Bryant] did not live in that home or hurt an animal, and for the rumor mill to even suggest that proves that the small-town social media drama is a cancer and it only stops when we decide to think critically and lead with facts and not emotion,” she said. “I’m absolutely disgusted by this entire event and am looking forward to due process to set it straight,” she said.
“I stand with Laurie Bryant,” Hunt said.
– Story by Publisher Scott David Brennan
