Images for this Case
CONVICTED: Was justice served?
more information on voting
When you vote, you are voting on whether or not the punishment fit the crime, NOT on the severity of the case itself. If you feel the sentence was very weak, you would vote 1 star. If you feel the sentence was very strong, you would vote 5 stars.
Please vote honestly and realistically. These ratings will be used a a tool for many future programs, including a "People’s Choice" of best and worst sentencing, DA and judge "report cards", and more. Try to resist the temptation to vote 1 star on every case, even if you feel that 100 years in prison isn’t enough.
Case #10277 Rating: 3.0 out of 5
Chained dog found beaten to death
Delran, NJ (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Dec 6, 2006
County: Burlington
Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 2 files available
Defendant/Suspect: Charles J. Friel, III
Case Updates: 4 update(s) available
Police are investigating the beating death of a pit bull found chained to a tree near the Rancocas Creek on Dec 6.
The dog was discovered early Dec 6 chained to a tree in a marshy area along the creek near Sylvan Court in the Water's Edge development.
Police Detective Sgt. Jeffrey Hubbs said X-rays taken at Mount Laurel Animal Hospital determined the animal had suffered skull and rib fractures from blunt force trauma.
"There are definitely signs of severe abuse," Hubbs said.
He said it appeared the dog had been dead for at least a week, possibly two weeks.
There were no identifying tags on the dog and no one had come forward as the animal's owner yesterday.
The dog was neutered and described as a tan, 80- to 100-pound, male pit bull mix.
Hubbs said police detectives and the Riverfront Animal Control are investigating the dog's death.
The LMB Animal Abuse Awareness Fund is offering a $100 reward for any information that leads to the conviction of anyone responsible for the abuse. The Laurel Springs-based nonprofit group is named for three dogs that died as a result of abuse and is dedicated to assisting rescue shelters and raising awareness about animal abuse.
Police asked anyone with information about the dog to call detectives at (856) 461-4498 or the police confidential tip line at (856) 461-9010.
Case UpdatesA former Delran man was sentenced on Sept 21 to two years of probation for chaining a put bull to a tree and beating it to death.
Charles J. Friel III, 21, of Philadelphia pleaded guilty in July to a single count of animal cruelty.
Superior Court Judge James J. Morley also ordered Friel to reimburse Delran Police Department $1,287 for the cost of its investigation and to pay $1,000 to the Burlington County Animal Shelter.
Friel also must receive counseling, serve 100 hours of community service and attend meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Several animal-rights activists who attended the sentencing hearing said they thought the punishment was too lenient.
"It certainly wasn't strong enough or harsh enough to deter other potential animal abusers," said Caryl Mackin-Wagner of the LBM Animal Abuse Awareness Fund in Laurel Springs, Camden County. "Animals deserve the same respect other living creatures deserve, and we would like to make sure that we prevent this from continuing because it is rampant."
The partially decomposed body of the dog was discovered early Dec. 6 chained to a tree in a marshy area along Rancocas Creek near Sylvan Court in the Water's Edge development.
Police said X-rays taken at Mount Laurel Animal Hospital determined the animal had suffered skull and rib fractures from blunt-force trauma, indicating the dog had been beaten to death.
There were no identifying tags on the dog. It was described as a neutered, mixed-breed pit bull.
Police said Friel was identified as a suspect as a result of tips provided to investigators through the anonymous tip line operated by Delran Police Department.
Friel took possession of the dog after the owner could no longer keep him, prosecutors said. | Source: PhillyBurbs.Com - Sept 22, 2007
Update posted on Sep 24, 2007 - 3:37PM |
Delran police arrested a township man this morning in connection with the beating death of a pit bull earlier this month.
Charles J. Friel III, 21, was charged with cruelty to animals that results in death, police said. Friel, who was arrested at 10:30 a.m., has already posted bail, which was set at 10 percent of $10,000.
Friel is from Delran but currently resides in Philadelphia and attends Widener University, police said.
On Dec. 6, a pit bull was found chained to a tree in the Waters Edge Development. It had been brutally beaten, police said.
Two animal rights organizations -- the Humane Society of the United States and the Lenox Bentley Matisse Animal Abuse Awareness Fund -- came forward last week to offer rewards in hopes of gathering information for an arrest. At this time, it's not known if the reward offers helped police. | Source: Courier Post Online - Dec 20, 2006
Update posted on Dec 20, 2006 - 5:26PM |
Two animal rights organizations are offering rewards for information leading to the arrest of the person responsible for the beating death of a dog earlier this month.
The Humane Society of the United States pledged up to $2,500, spokeswoman Belinda Mager said.
The Louis B. Marino Animal Abuse Awareness Fund offered another $910, co-founder Caryl Mackin-Wagner said.
A resident of the Waters Edge development found the male pit bull beaten to death on Dec. 8.
The dog's badly decomposed body had been chained to a tree. X-rays revealed it had broken ribs and several skull fractures.
"We're just looking for any information we can get" that could lead to an arrest, Mackin-Wagner said. "I just hope we're lucky to do that."
Representatives of both organizations said they are getting involved in hopes of stirring up interest among the community. Offering rewards often helps coax people to come forward, Mager said.
"Normally, we'll see news reports that are already out there or police officials will come to us," Mager said.
Mager said the Humane Society issued four other rewards throughout the country last week. They usually issue two or three a month, she said.
"Unfortunately, this is more prevalent than the public is really aware of," Mackin-Wagner said. "We're usually flooded with e-mails with regards to serious animal abuse."
Mackin-Wagner called abuse of the dog in Delran "graphic."
"This killing. ... the way he ended up, he deserves to have somebody remember him and fight for him," she said. | Source: Courier Post Online Dec 16, 2006
Update posted on Dec 17, 2006 - 10:24PM |
The Humane Society of the United States is offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the bludgeoning death of a dog in Delran last week. Calyl Mackin-Wagner of the LBM Animal Abuse Awareness Fund is also offering a reward in this case.
According to news reports and Louis Marino, Delran Township's animal control officer and certified cruelty investigator, a resident found the decomposed body of a male, neutered, mixed breed-pit bull chained to a tree in the Waters Edge development on December 8. A pronged collar encircled the dog's neck X-rays taken at Mt. Laurel Animal Hospital revealed the battered dog had suffered broken ribs and several skull fractures.
Detective Anthony Ogozalek, Jr. of the Delran Police Department is investigating this case. Anyone with information is asked to contact him at 856-461-4498. Calls will be kept confidential. | Source: HSUS Press Release - Dec 15, 2006
Update posted on Dec 15, 2006 - 9:15PM |
References |
