A hotly contested, high-profile horse cruelty case involving the removal of more than 70 animals from Morgan Horse trainer Beth Hoskins’ Erie County, N.Y., farm in 2010 became more controversial this week after an animal connected to the case died while residing at a foster stable staffed by Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Serving Erie County, N.Y. employees.

The SPCA Serving Erie County removed 73 allegedly neglected horses from Hoskins’ Aurora farm in March 2010. All the animals were placed under SPCA care.

Hoskins was later charged with a total of 74 misdemeanor animal cruelty counts and has pleaded not guilty to the charges. The case remains pending.

During the course of the case New York State Supreme Court Judge Joseph R. Glownia later ordered the SPCA to return 40 of the removed horses to Hoskins. Animal Welfare authorities are monitoring Hoskins’ care of those animals. The remaining 33 animals were placed in SPCA foster homes