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Case ID: 10955

Classification: Mutilation/Torture

Animal: other wildlife

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Coyote boiled alive and skinned
Trenton, OH (US)

Incident Date: Thursday, Mar 15, 2007
County: Butler

Disposition: Not Charged

Abuser names unreleased

Case Updates: 6 update(s) available

A dog found dead along a road in southwest Ohio was boiled alive in either oil or water and then skinned, except for fur on its paws, authorities said.

An necropsy was performed by a veterinarian Thursday on the 35- to 40-pound dog believed to be a 2-year-old, male chow/pit bull mix, said Leland Gordon, executive director of the Animal Friends Humane Society.

The dog's remains, found along a road in St. Clair Township, were brought to the humane society by Butler County Animal Control about 1:30 p.m. March 15, Gordon said.

The dog had cuts on its legs and around the neck, and a wire was found around one of the rear legs, Gordon said.

The humane society offered a reward for information leading to the arrest or conviction of a suspect.

A similar case of a dog being skinned, reported about eight months ago in Morgan Township in Butler County, hasn't been solved, Gordon said.

Trenton is about 25 miles north of Cincinnati.

Case Updates

What appeared at first to be a horrific case of animal abuse � a boiled, skinned dog � turned out to be, at worst, an inconsiderate hunter's disposal of a coyote carcass, authorities said today.

A person stepped forward and provided detailed information to help investigators "positively conclude the animal was a coyote killed by a hunter, who kept it in a freezer prior to skinning it for its pelt and then dumping the carcass" in Butler County's St. Clair Township last month, a Butler County sheriff's news release said.

No criminal charges are being filed and the case is considered closed, the sheriff's office said, but "hunters are reminded and cautioned to properly dispose of animals they legally kill, so that this type of incident is not repeated in the future."

Butler County Prosecutor Robin Piper said a veterinarian's misidentification of the animal as a chow-pit bull mix might be considered an embarrassing goof, but he says some good came out of the case.

"Any attention that we drew to the issue of animal cruelty is very legitimate," he said, noting recent verified cases of a burned cat, a starved dog and a dog with a chain embedded in its neck.

Piper said the investigators in the case did what they were supposed to do.

"A good objective investigation can lead you to a conclusion that you hadn't expected," he said. "That is what good investigative work is all about.

"Frankly, I'm glad there isn't some person running around out there who boiled and skinned a dog."

Source: Cincinnatti Enquirer - April 17, 2007
Update posted on Apr 17, 2007 - 8:28PM

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Authorities say they have identified "a person of interest" and have conducted two court-ordered searches of undisclosed locations, but they still need the public's help to crack the case.

The torture case "is the water-cooler talk of the community," said Sheriff Rick Jones.

This animal was not dead when it was boiled and skinned, and that's outrageous," said Butler County Prosecutor Robin Piper, referring to results of a veterinarian's necropsy on the animal's remains. "We need the public to be outraged. ... We need somebody to step forward and tell us who did this."

Piper said he is convinced that the perpetrator bragged about his deed - or that someone might even have witnessed the abuse.

A reward of $10,000 is being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

The Humane Society of the United States and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals kicked in $2,500 each; the balance came from Piper's office, Jones' office and ordinary citizens.

Vickey Steier, Butler's chief animal control officer, said one woman called, apologizing that $15 was all she could afford to offer for the reward money. But Steier told the woman that every donation helps.

Meanwhile, Ohio Rep. Courtney Combs, R-Hamilton, said he was "somewhat dumbfounded" to learn Ohio law classifies even extreme cruelty as only a misdemeanor.

Combs said he will rely on Piper to research other states' laws and recommend legislation that he hopes can be introduced by May 1.

"We will fast-track it," Combs said.

Ohio law makes no distinction between intentional and unintentional harm to an animal, and that needs to be changed, Piper said.

He said there's a big difference between a thoughtless or ignorant person who doesn't feed an animal properly, and a person who wilfully tortures an animal, as in this case.

"This involves pure evil," Piper said. "It's horrific."

Steier asks anyone with information to contact her at 513-200-6621.

Source: The Enquirer - Marc 23, 2007
Update posted on Mar 23, 2007 - 11:28PM

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Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones, Prosecutor Robin Piper and state Rep. Courtney Combs have vowed to catch those responsible for a dog found skinned in the woods of St. Clair Twp. last week and to increase penalties for animal cruelty.

The county animal control department and sheriff's deputies served search warrants in the case at an undisclosed location and expect to be able to use DNA technology to find the dog's killer. The sheriff said detectives have identified a person of interest in the case.

The remains of the dog - believed to be a 2-year-old dark brown male chow/pit bull mix - were found a week ago along Four Mile Creek Road near Eaton Road in St. Clair Twp.

A veterinarian who performed an autopsy said it revealed that the 35- to 40-pound dog was boiled alive in either oil or water and then skinned.

"This animal was skinned while still alive," Piper said, calling the culprits "pure evil."

Combs also proposed changing state law to classify animal cruelty as a felony instead of a misdemeanor. He said he is moving quickly to introduce a law increasing the penalty for those who intentionally harm animals.

"We will not stand for this in Butler County," said Combs, who, following research of the law by Piper, would "craft legislation as soon as possible."

Currently the maximum penalty for anyone convicted of animal cruelty is six months in jail.

Piper said animal torture is linked to domestic violence, sexual abuse and is an early sign of a person disturbed enough to commit crimes against people.

"Seventy-one percent of domestic violence cases have involved pet abuse," Piper said.

Many notorious killers, including Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer, admitted to torturing animals before moving to killing many victims.

Piper said an arrest may be "taking a train off the track."

Vickey Steier, the county's chief animal control officer, said often future violent offenders use animals as a "training ground."

Steier said investigators have received some good leads, "but we need more. Anyone who may have seen anything, no matter how small they think it might be, that call may lead us in the right direction."

Jones said the culprit will be found.

"Six months is at least a good start, at least in my jail," the sheriff said.

Reward money leading to the conviction of those responsible has increased to $10,000, according to Piper. The sheriff's office and prosecutor's office each have donated $1,500, while other organizations and private citizens have contributed to the fund.

Anyone with information is asked to call Steier at (513) 200-6621.

Source: Middletown Journal - March 23, 2007
Update posted on Mar 23, 2007 - 4:47AM

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Donations made over the weekend brought the total reward from $6,420 to more than $8,500 as of Wednesday afternoon, said Butler County Animal Control Chief Vickey Steier. Steier said she expects more donations to be made.

The Humane Society of the United States, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and Animal Friends Humane Society have contributed to the reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.

Source: Fairfield Echo - March 22, 2007
Update posted on Mar 22, 2007 - 12:06AM

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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 boiling and skinning a dog in St. Clair Township, Ohio. The total reward including monies from groups and individuals is up to $7,000.

Source: HSUS Press Release - March 19, 2007
Update posted on Mar 19, 2007 - 4:28PM

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In one of the most extreme animal cruelty cases ever seen in Butler County, a dog's body was found Thursday boiled and skinned along Four Mile Creek Road in Butler County's St. Clair Township.

The Animal Friends Humane Society in Trenton is offering a reward for information leading to the arrest or conviction of those responsible.

The body of the dog - which humane society officials believe was a 2-year-old, dark brown male chow/pit bull mix - was brought to the humane society by Butler County Animal Control about 1:30 p.m. Thursday. It had been skinned, except for its feet, said Leland Gordon, executive director of the humane society.

A humane society veterinarian who performed an autopsy on the animal Thursday said it revealed that the 35 to 40-pound dog was boiled alive in oil or water and then skinned, Gordon said.

The dog's body also had cuts on its legs and around the neck, he said. Around one of the rear legs, officials found a wire that might have been used to string up the animal, he said.

Gordon said it one of the most extreme animal cruelty cases the society has ever seen. "If people don't like animals, they need to stay away from them," he said, "or, if they have a problem animal, they need to bring him to their local animal shelter.

"Don't do stuff like this to them. This is wrong, and it's disgusting."

Gordon said a similar case of a dog's being skinned was reported about eight months ago in Morgan Township. That case also remains unsolved, he said.

Anyone with information about the dog found Thursday should call the Animal Friends Humane Society at (513) 867-5727 or write it at 5225 Trenton Road, Trenton, Ohio, 45067.

Source: Cincinatti Post - March 16, 2007
Update posted on Mar 17, 2007 - 1:39AM

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Coyote boiled alive and skinnedTrenton, OH (US)

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Coyote boiled alive and skinned
Trenton, OH (US)