Dog thrown against floor, head held undwerwater
Hilton Head Island, SC (US)Incident Date: Thursday, Nov 6, 2008
County: Beaufort
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Alexander M. Gregor
A Hilton Head Island man faces four charges of animal cruelty after Beaufort County sheriff's deputies dug up the carcasses of two dogs he adopted and allegedly tortured to death.
Alexander M. Gregor, 22, of 10 Brittany Place, Hilton Head, remained in the county jail Monday on a $35,242 bond.
The alleged abuse was uncovered Wednesday when Gregor was arrested on a criminal domestic violence charge. His 28-year-old live-in girlfriend had reported an assault that took place Nov. 22.
On that day, the woman arrived home after work to find him beating their white German shepherd, "Jake," which had been adopted from the Hilton Head Humane Association, according to the Sheriff's Office. When she tried to stop him, he allegedly hit her in the face and bit her several times.
She ran away and hid in a bathroom, while Gregor shot the dog several times in the head with a pellet gun, authorities said. He then held the dog's head underwater in the couple's bath tub until it died.
Following Jake's death, Gregor adopted a German shepherd-mix puppy, named Tag, from the Jasper Animal Rescue Mission in Ridgeland, which holds adoption fairs at a pet supply store in greater Bluffton.
On Dec. 6., Gregor allegedly threw the dog against the floor until it died, according to the arrest warrant.
Acting on information provided by his girlfriend, deputies uncovered the remains of both dogs Friday. Tag was found buried in a wooded area near Gateway Drive on the north end of Hilton Head. Jake was found buried in a wooded area off New Riverside Drive in Bluffton. He was identified by a microchip implanted in him by the Hilton Head Humane Association.
A preliminary evaluation by the humane association uncovered evidence that both dogs had been severely abused, the Sheriff's Office said. An X-ray of Jake's head showed numerous metal pellets lodged in his skull. The remains of both dogs were sent to Charleston for further forensic analysis.
Gregor also is accused of beating his girlfriend's adult Husky mix, called Paddy, on Oct. 13 and Nov. 5.
On Oct. 13, he allegedly sprayed men's cologne into Paddy's eyes, causing them to swell shut, according to arrest warrants. On Nov. 5, he is accused of beating the dog, slamming it to the floor and holding its head underwater.
Local animal rescue groups described the cruelty as "horrific" and are urging the maximum penalty.
Currently, Gregor faces four misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty, according to arrest warrants. The charges carry up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine.
Those charges will be upgraded to felony animal cruelty, which carries up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine, authorities said.
"There's no doubt about it," said Sheriff P.J. Tanner, "Rest assured, those charges will be upgraded."
Solicitor Duffie Stone confirmed the case will be presented to the grand jury in January as felonies.
Tanner suggested three motives in the torture. "One is that he was using the killing of the two dogs and the beating of the third dog to control his girlfriend," Tanner said. "Two is that he's just mean. And three, based on the first two motives coupled with what he did, this guy's got some serious problems.
"I'll be honest with you, that's someone who needs psychiatric help."
Most animal cruelty cases in Beaufort County have been incidents of neglect rather than malice as is alleged against Gregor. References« SC State Animal Cruelty Map
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