NORRISTOWN, Pa. — A Montgomery County woman accused of poisoning her pets so they could “be together in heaven” has been found not guilty of animal cruelty by reason of insanity. Montgomery County Judge Steven O’Neill found Linda Muchnick, 57, of Pottstown, was suffering from a mental illness that prevented her from knowing right from wrong after 12 of her cats were found dead inside her home last year.

Mental health experts testified that financial problems prompted Muchnick to feed her 29 cats and one dog rat poison. Muchnick was also hospitalized after she was discovered unresponsive when investigators came to her home in August.

Defense attorney Adam Katzman says his client hopes to get back the 17 surviving cats and the dog. Prosecutors say they’ll oppose Muchnick’s attempts to reclaim the animals.