A routine traffic stop of a registered sex offender in Indiana has spiraled into a stomach-turning investigation, uncovering not only a massive trove of child sexual abuse material but also graphic videos allegedly depicting a woman engaged in sexual acts with a family dog. The discovery has led to felony charges against 26-year old Cassie Snay, who initially confessed but now offers a defense claiming coercion.
The chain of events began in December 2024 when the Wells County Sheriff’s Office investigated Trey Metler, a registered sexually violent predator, for failing to update his address. A traffic stop and arrest in January 2025 led to a search of his vehicle, where police say they found drugs and two cell phones.
A forensic examination of one iPhone revealed what investigators describe as a horrific vault: approximately 69,000 images and 11,000 videos of child sexual abuse material. Scrolling through this immense collection, detectives say they encountered content featuring a recognizable woman—Cassie Snay, with whom Metler had an on-again, off-again relationship.
Among these files, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by Law & Crime, were videos and photos allegedly showing Snay performing explicit sexual acts with a black and tan canine. The affidavit details multiple incidents, with creation dates spanning from January to October 2024, occurring at locations including a Motel 6 and Snay’s mother’s residence.
The document states that during a Mirandized interview on September 19, 2025, Snay confessed. She allegedly admitted to committing the acts, creating and sending the videos and photos to Metler, and identified the dog by name. This confession and the digital evidence formed the basis for her arrest on two counts of bestiality, a Level 6 felony in Indiana.
Following her arrest and initial court appearance, however, Snay has publicly advanced a starkly different narrative. In social media comments reviewed by Law & Crime, she claims she was forced into the acts through violence. “I’d love to explain and show the world he beat me for this s**,” she wrote in one Facebook exchange, alleging Metler coerced her.
This defense has been met with immediate skepticism online, with one commenter questioning why she did not report alleged domestic abuse to authorities. The case presents a complex intersection of deeply disturbing crimes, linking the worlds of child exploitation and animal abuse.
Animal advocate and journalist Paul Mueller, speaking to Law & Crime, noted that bestiality cases are more common than the public realizes but often go unreported or unprosecuted with vigor. He highlighted a troubling crossover, stating that studies often show a link between animal abuse and other forms of violence, with abusers frequently seeking victims who cannot speak out.
“The animal cannot speak, cannot use their voice, and they’re just being taken advantage of,” Mueller said. He expressed frustration that animal abuse cases often take a backseat in the legal system, though he acknowledged slow progress. The discovery in this case, he noted, was almost incidental, uncovered only through the dedicated investigation into child abuse material.
Snay was charged on December 9 and made an initial court appearance on December 15, where a public defender was appointed. She was released under a form of monitored conditional release pending further proceedings. Trey Metler faces separate charges, including possession of child pornography and narcotics, in addition to his failure to register.
The case underscores the dark pathways investigations can take when digital devices are examined, revealing layers of criminal activity. It also raises difficult questions about coercion, consent, and the treatment of animal victims within the justice system. As the legal process continues, the focus remains on the evidence extracted from a phone—a device that contained an archive of alleged depravity leading to two separate, shocking investigations.