Dog doused in gasoline, set on fire, dies
Baton Rouge, LA (US)Incident Date: Sunday, Oct 25, 2009
County: East Baton Rouge
Disposition: Open
Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!
Managers of the Baker Trails Apartment Complex on Baker Boulevard say someone lit their dog on fire, and they think it was meant as retaliation.
Deionna Richardson and Troy Jeanmard own an apartment complex in Baker, and their two year-old dog Jake lived there with them. But when they started changing the look and feel of the area, they say their dog Jake fell victim.
"He was probably the best dog I've ever met," Jeanmard said.
The apartment managers think Jake was in the front part of the complex when someone poured either gasoline or diesel on his body, then set him on fire.
"We believe it was definitely retaliation because of us asking people to leave the property that shouldn't be here to begin with," Jeanmard said.
Jeanmard told 9News he routinely takes over problem complexes and revitalizes them. There is always some push-back from the people against change, but he said he has never seen anything like this.
"I saw Jake engulfed in flames, rolling around in the grass, trying to put himself out," said Jeanmard.
Doctors at the LSU vet school say Jake likely burned for two or three minutes which was long enough to suffer third degree burns on most of his body. The severity is what makes doctors so sure some kind of flamable agent was involved.
"The doctor also stated that he didn't think that Jake would make it," Richardson said.
Jake lived for one week until his burns caused his death on Friday.
"It was murder. This dog was like our kid," Jeanmard said.
Although they think they know who may have done this, the managers have no evidence and no eye witness reports. They are now asking for your help catching whoever took their dog, their friend, their family member.
The East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Department is investigating the case, but they say they have few leads at this point. If you have any information call Crime Stoppers at 344- STOP. If you have information on this case, please contact:
Crimestoppers
344- STOP
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