Dog tortured, poisoned with Drano and bleach, stabbed - Wausau, WI

Thursday, Jun 21, 2012

County: Marathon

Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Convicted

Defendant/Suspect: Sean Janas

Case Updates: 3 update(s) available

In a case that is attracting attention across the country, Sean Janas, a 20 year-old Wausau, Wisconsin resident, is facing more than five years in prison and $30,000 in fines if she is convicted of the charges against her. Sean Janas is accused of felony mistreatment of an animal, poisoning an animal, and obstructing justice.

Partially based on Janas' own diary entries, prosecutors believe that Janas killed her boyfriend's dog by force-feeding the 4 year-old German shepherd, Labrador retriever mix bleach and Drano over a period of months and slitting the dog's throat. According to Janas' boyfriend, his dog, Mary, vomited blood for approximately a week before she expired.

According to GreenBayPressGazette.com, Janas' diary included the following two entries, among others, that detail the woman's abuse of Mary, a defenseless dog:

"I need to find a way to kill her without it looking like I killed her. I've done lots of things already. I've given her drano, bleach and a lot of pain pills lol one night she got all tweaked out because of it, it was so funny."

"I have never hated an animal so much in my life, much less hate one or beat one. But the pleasure I get from watching her whimper in pain and cry out for help as I shove drano and bleach down her throat is like no other."

Janas' preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, October 31st, 2012, at the Marathon County Circuit Court. Mercifully, Judge Michael Moran issued an order preventing Janas from having contact with animals while her case is pending. According to Mary's Facebook page, Judge Gregory E. Grau will oversee Janas' preliminary proceeding.

Case Updates

The woman convicted of poisoning and stabbing her former boyfriend's dog will spend some time in prison. 22-year-old Sean Janas was given the maximum possible sentence under Wisconsin law, of three-and-a-half years. That breaks down to one-and-a-half years behind bars and two years extended supervision. Since Janas also had theft crimes in other counties, and a previously dismissed charge being read into this sentence, Janas will also have nine additional months of time behind bars to be served consecutively. Janas has been in jail and gets credit for 447 days already served, meaning she will have to go to the state prison for an additional 183 days. She will also have to serve community service when she gets out of prison. Janas admitted to heroin use and how it affected her, but Judge Greg Grau referred to Janas' diary entries showing she hated Mary, the dog that belonged to her ex-boyfriend Steve Quick. The diary also showed how Janas enjoyed torturing and killing the dog and only showed remorse for how it affected Mr Quick. Deputy District Attorney Theresa Wetzsteone says the heroin use is not a reason for committing these acts. "There is no justification or excuse for what she did to Mary in this case, and heroin? The tried to use that as justification, and I agree, she was an addict at the time this occurred, but I do not see the connection between the use and what happened to Mary in this case." Sean Janas must also undergo counseling, drug treatment, and when she is out of prison, she cannot own, house, or train any animals for five years. Wetzsteone says she has heard from many people that think her sentence should have been even longer, but sentencing guidelines limit what can be done. She also says Janas needs to take advantage of treatment she will get in prison. "These acts and her diary statements she made about the pleasures she received from committing these acts, that's scary, and that she should be scared as well, and I hope that she gets the treatment she needs through this sentence. To make sure there is public protection, I think the court did everything the court could do to ensure that today within the law."

Source: WSAU - March 17, 2014 Update posted on Apr 21, 2014 - 4:11PM

A Wausau woman accused of mistreating and killing her boyfriend's dog is requesting a new attorney after telling the court she's firing her current one. During a motion hearing Monday in Marathon County Court the judge informed Sean Janas that at this time the change of counsel would not delay her May 1 jury trial. Janas has also requested a change of venue or venire. Meaning, she'd like an outside jury to be brought in, or have her case heard in a different county. That motion is still under consideration. A status conference is expected to be held next week. The trial is expected to last two days.

Source: WSAW - March 25, 2013 Update posted on Apr 21, 2014 - 4:00PM

The trial of a Wausau woman accused of torturing and killing her boyfriend's dog could get pushed back. Sean Janas, 21, is charged with two felony counts of animal abuse. Authorities say she tortured, poisoned and killed her boyfriend's Labrador-Shepherd last year. The trial was supposed to start next month. But Monday the Marathon County deputy district attorney asked for a new date due to scheduling conflicts. The judge is expected to rule on that Thursday. Also in court, the judge ruled a diary Janas kept detailing her relationship with the dog will be allowed at trial. Prosecutors say Janas kept a diary about systematically torturing the dog and about her "intense hatred" for it. Among the allegations against Janas is she poured Drano and bleach down the dog's throat and stabbed it with a knife, according to the criminal complaint. The trial is expected to last four days. Janas' arrest and media reports of what happened to her boyfriend's dog sparked much attention. Hundreds of protesters, some with dogs, marched outside the Marathon County Courthouse in October 2012 during a hearing for Janas.

Source: WAOW - Dec 30, 2012 Update posted on Apr 21, 2014 - 4:09PM

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