06:00 PM EDT on Friday, June 24, 2005

By 13News

(AHOSKIE, NC) - A digital camera was seized from a van belonging to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, 13News has learned.

Authorities in Ahoskie served a search warrant Thursday night to search the contents of the digital camera. Sources told 13News they found 124 photographs that had been taken inside the van but declined to describe what was portrayed in the photographs. "It'll come out in court," the source said.

13News was told that some pictures were taken before the animals were picked up and others were taken afterwards.

It's part of the on-going investigation into the deaths of more than 30 dogs and cats that had been picked up from two North Carolina shelters by two PETA employees.

Ahoskie Police photos

Andrew Cook and Adria Hinkle

Adria Hinkle and Andrew Cook were charged last week on 31 counts of animal cruelty, eight counts of illegally disposing of dead animals and trespassing.

The arrests came after a month-long investigation in which as many as 80 dead animals had been found in dumpsters on four consecutive Wednesday nights.

Police staked out a dumpster at a strip mall on June 16 and saw a white van pull up and then bags were tossed into it. The bags contained the bodies of 18 dogs; 13 other animals were found dead in the van.

In light of the allegations, Bertie and Northampton counties suspended agreements with PETA for the Norfolk-based animal rights group to pick up unwanted animals.