Attorneys/Judges
| Prosecutor(s): | Travis Elder | | Judge(s): | Jesse Margolis |
Puppy drowned in river
Elephant Rock, OR (US)Incident Date: Sunday, Aug 9, 2009
County: Curry
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Rachel Estelle Wilson-McCollough
A 39-year-old Medford woman was arraigned on two charges of first-degree animal abuse Friday for the abuse and death of a 6-month-old puppy in the Elephant Rock area of the Chetco River on Aug. 9.
Rachel Estelle Wilson-McCollough appeared in Curry County Circuit Court by television from the county jail, where she was taken Thursday night after being arrested by Medford police.
Judge Jesse Margolis set security at $15,000. Her next appearance in court was scheduled for Monday.
Sheriff’s officers had searched for Wilson-McCollough since they received a report that she was witnessed drowning the puppy.
A witness said that Wilson-McCollough went to the river with another woman and her daughter, who brought the puppy.
The witness said she picked up the puppy, dove into the river and put the pup under a rock. She came back to shore and the puppy bubbled up to the surface.
Sheriff John Bishop said Friday that Medford police located Wilson-McCollough about 5 p.m. Thursday and arrested her for the crime of aggravated animal abuse in the first degree.
“Medford Police acted at the request of this office based upon Curry County Sheriff’s deputies’ investigation into allegations that Wilson-McCollough had intentionally drowned a 6-month-old puppy,” Bishop said.
“Wilson-McCollough was transported to the Jackson County Jail, where custody was transferred to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. Jackson County Sheriff’s Office then transported Wilson-McCollough halfway to Gold Beach where they met with Curry County Sheriff’s Office personnel who took custody of Wilson-McCollough and lodged her in the Curry County Jail,” Bishop said.
“The Curry County Sheriff’s Office has spent many hours since the alleged crime looking for Wilson-McCollough, following leads and tips from concerned citizens,” Bishop said.
“We’ve charged two counts of animal abuse in the first degree,” said Deputy District Attorney Travis Elder, who will be prosecuting the case.
One is for intentional physical injury to an animal, including death. The other is for cruelty, causing death.
Bishop said he would like to thank the Medford Police Department, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and the community members who assisted in attempting to locate Wilson-McCollough.
He said the Curry County Sheriff’s Office is continuing the investigation and will forward all investigative information to the Curry County District Attorney for prosecution. References« OR State Animal Cruelty Map
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