Pet-Abuse.Com - Animal Abuse Case Details: 5-day-old llama stabbed

5-day-old llama stabbed
Salisbury, MD (US)

Incident Date: Tuesday, Sep 2, 2003
County: Wicomico
Local Map: available
Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Shannon Ray Hitchens

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

Case ID: 1737

Classification: Stabbing

Animal: other farm animal

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Shannon Ray Hitchens, a 24-year-old unemployed Parsonsburg resident, was arrested Tuesday and charged with entering the Salisbury Zoological Park after hours and stabbing a five-day-old llama.

Police said three people claiming to be friends of Hitchens contacted them about his behavior with animals. They told police that they witnessed Hitchens purchase raw meat and eat it, and participate in extreme sexual acts with animals, according to court documents.

The animal was discovered by members of the zoo staff on Aug. 26 sliced from the rectum to the rib cage, and a trail of blood was found throughout the zoo, according to court documents. The animal had lost too much blood to be saved and was later euthanized, court documents stated.

According to court documents, Hitchens was held at Wicomico County Detention Center on $100,000 bond. If convicted, Hitchens could face a maximum of 35 years in prison and fines up to $10,000.

Hitchens is charged with second-, third- and fourth-degree burglary, malicious destruction of property, trespassing, two counts of animal cruelty and animal mutilation, according to Salisbury police.

Hitchens is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Sept. 25 at 8:30 a.m. in Court Room 2 of the Wicomico County District Court.

Case Updates

The Jan. 21 trial of Shannon Ray Hitchens, the 24-year-old Parsonsburg man accused of molesting and fatally stabbing a baby llama at the Salisbury Zoological Park, has been pushed back six weeks, county prosecutors confirmed Thursday.

Beau Oglesby, Wicomico County Assistant State's Attorney, said the trial is now scheduled for March 8 after Hitchens' attorneys at the Wicomico County Public Defenders Office filed a motion to suppress.

"It's a standard procedure that happens fairly often," he said. "It doesn't mean there is evidence to suppress. Nothing has changed on the state's end."

The motion to suppress hearing will be held Feb. 6, Oglesby said.

Hitchens was arrested shortly after the Aug. 29 incident at the zoo. He faces four felony charges of aggravated cruelty to animals, second-degree burglary, theft of more than $500 and attempted theft. The felony charges carry penalties of up to 48 years in prison and $56,000 in fines.

Hitchens also faces nine misdemeanor charges, including animal abuse or neglect, fourth-degree burglary, trespassing, unauthorized use of livestock, theft of less than $500, attempted theft, malicious destruction of property valued over $500, malicious destruction of property valued under $500 and wearing and carrying a concealed dangerous and deadly weapon. The misdemeanor charges carry penalties of up to 17 years in prison and $8,600 in fines.

Hitchens is being held without bail until his trial, Oglesby said.

Read More: Update posted on Jan 9, 2004 - 4:00PM

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5-day-old llama stabbedSalisbury, MD (US)

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5-day-old llama stabbed
Salisbury, MD (US)