Case Details
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Case ID: 304
Classification: Bestiality, Beating
Animal: cow, other farm animal, rodent/small mammal (pet), goat
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Case #304 Rating: 4.4 out of 5



Llamas beaten, one sodomized
East Lake, FL (US)

Incident Date: Sunday, Feb 11, 2001
County: Pinellas

Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 2 files available

Defendants/Suspects:
» Brandon R. Eldred
» Robert B. Pettyjohn

Case Updates: 2 update(s) available

Update:- Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Mark Shames sentenced Eldred to 3 years in state prison followed by 2 years of probation for his role in the brutal attacks on 3 pet llamas in East Lake, Florida. He will spend the 3 years in a youthful offender facility. He must also undergo treatment for substance abuse and is prohibited from having contact with animals and pets while on probation.

The judge made it clear that any chance the 18-year-old may have had at avoiding prison time was hurt when he was arrested last month for violating his probation in another case. The judge also said he had received numerous letters and postcards from around the country urging him to sentence Eldred to several years in prison. One letter from the HSUS urged the judge to give a stern sentence on behalf of its 7-million members.

Update: 5/21/02 - Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Mark Shames revoked the bail of Brandon Eldred. Eldred will now stay in jail until he is sentenced for attacking three pet llamas. The bail was revoked for violating his probation. Eldred was cited for racing another vehicle and admitted to a deputy that he had consumed alcohol. Eldred is scheduled to be sentenced on June 19th.

Update: 5/2/02 - Prosecutors tried to get Eldred's bail revoked and have him sent to jail until he can be sentenced for beating 3 llamas. Prosecutors stated that Eldred has violated his probation by missing court-appointments, failing to do all the required community services, being cited for careless driving for racing another vehicle in March (2002) and admitting to a deputy that he had consumed alcohol. Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Mark Shames denied the state's motion.

Update: 4/26/02 Pettyjohn pled guilty to animal cruelty charges and will go to prison for the next eight years. 3 of the years are for the shooting of two bulls and the other 5 years for the llama beatings. The prison sentences will run consecutively. After prison he will be on 5 years probation for 9 third degree felony charges of distribution of a controlled substance, to burglary to grand theft. In addition Pettyjohn will have to pay more than $10,000 restitution, $7200 will go to the victims. If he violates his parole it could get him an additional 40 years in jail.Original Casefile:
Keith Appenzeller found his llamas known as Monopoly and Willie Wonka, when he went out for his early-morning jog on Sunday February 11, 2001.

3 month old Willie Wonka was lying in a pool of blood, severely beaten and with a gouged eye. 4-year-old female llama named Monopoly was beaten and lying nearby. Willie Wonka had been dragged under the fence of his pen and Monopoly had been chased and beaten. Monopoly died hours later while on the way to the University of Florida's Animal Hospital in Gainesville. Appenzeller's two other llamas Shania, Willie Wonka's mother and Marshall Montana Blue, Monopoly's baby, were not hurt in the attack. It was later determined that Willie Wonka had a cracked skull as well as a fracture in the right nasal bone and the eye injury. The necropsy of Monopoly revealed she died of shock after suffering many injuries, including being sodomized by a blunt object that injured her internal organs.

Brandon R. Eldred, age 17, of 1801 East Lake Road was arrested by the Pinellas County Sheriffs Office on a felony count of cruelty to animals after the deputies found him walking nearby, wearing a blood splattered white shirt and carrying the top part of a golf club. The llama's owner found the bottom part of the broken golf club on his 5-acre property.

A neighbor who suspected there were trespassers on his property because his animals were spooked called the Sheriff's office. A power drill and other tools were also found on the property. At that time, Appenzeller flagged down the deputy and told them about the beatings. The Sheriff's department suspect that Eldred did not act alone and burglary took place because of the tools that were found.

Robert B. Pettyjohn II, age 18, of 594 Ranch Road, was arrested the next day after admitting to investigators that he beat the animals after mixing 9 beers and 4 Xanax pills on Saturday night. Pettyjohn was being questioned about the recent burglary of a Tarpon Springs Gold Shop, when he acknowledged his part in the llama attack. The Sheriff's office also suspected Eldred of the golf shop burglary.

Pettyjohn was charged with 1 count of felony cruelty to animals and Eldred was charged with 2 counts of animal cruelty and 1 count of armed trespass. Willie Wonka had to undergo surgery to remove his left eye. Willie Wonka's veterinary care cost $2000 and his left eyelid is sewn shut. Initially Pettyjohn had been questioned in the area of the llama attacks shortly before they found Eldred, but let him go because he lived about a 1/2 mile south of the Appenzeller property just down the street. He was later arrested that same afternoon (February 11th) on a charge of domestic simple assault and simple battery after getting in a fistfight with his brother-in-law.

The investigation revealed that the llamas were beaten shortly before dawn on Sunday February 11th. Many of the neighbors living on Ranch Road have animals including horses, goats and lambs. Several neighbors reported that they had seen other animals injured in the past. One neighbor reported that he recalled seeing a grotesque sight on Ranch Road about a year before. He saw 3-4 turtles, 2 decapitated turtleheads and 2 fish dangling on a powerline that stretches across the road in front of Pettyjohns home. Inside the mouths of the turtles and fish were metal hooks attached to fishing line that was tangled the power line. They never found out who had hung the turtles and fish, but they remained on the power line for about a month after the incident.

Pettyjohn confessed to the December 9th, 2000 burglary of the Tarpon Springs Driving Range in a written statement. Pettyjohn said he was the lookout for the 1:30 am. Burglary. 10 golf clubs worth about $800 were taken in that burglary. David J. Sullivan, Jr. age 18, of 825 Cypress St. E. was also charged with burglary and dealing in stolen property about a week before the llama attacks. Sullivan broke his ankle as he left the golf store. Pettyjohn helped him to the getaway car and drove him to a hospital. Pettyjohn was held in the Pinellas County jail in lieu of a $25,000 bail. Eldred was held in the county's Juvenile Detention Center.

Deputies have encountered Pettyjohn 15 times since 1992, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's records. Pettyjohn is the son Dr. Bruce Pettyjohn, Pinellas County's EMS Medical Director, who twice had spoken to deputies on his son's behalf when the youth had scrapes with the law, the records further showed. In May 1997 Dr. Pettyjohn told a deputy investigating his son for grand theft for allegedly stealing 2 motorcycles, that he knew a high-ranking official in the Sheriff's Office and joked that he "might need to ask for a favor." Dr. Pettyjohn adamantly denied making that remark and stated he and his wife, Janet, also a doctor; (an osteopath) had cooperated with investigators and pushed for stiffer punishment for their son. Dr. Pettyjohn further stated he had asked for court-mandated therapy for his son for his violent streak and for drug and alcohol abuse. The Pinellas-Pasco Sate Attorney's Office, declined to file formal charges in the motorcycle thefts.

On January 1, 2000, at about 1 am. Deputies and paramedics were called to the Pettyjohn home for a possible drug overdose. Robert Pettyjohn, while handcuffed to a gurney told the paramedic he was looking for an object to use to stab the other paramedic in the heart. Pettyjohn also told the deputy the "he would see him through a rifle scope one day" and promptly spit on him according to other sheriff records. Pettyjohn was taken to Helen Ellis Memorial Hospital in Tarpon Springs under Florida's Baker Act, which allows for the involuntary commitment of people who threaten or attempt to hurt themselves or others. Dr. Pettyjohn had his son released from the hospital and told deputies that his son had mistakenly taken a higher dosage of his medication Neurontin on 12-31-99, which caused him to act the way he did. Pettyjohn pled no contest to battery on a law enforcement officer. He was sentenced to pay a $50 fee, complete 50 hours of community service, take an anger management course, continue his studies in school and get individual and family counseling. He was also given a curfew and ordered to follow the orders of the house and required to take a tour of the county jail.

Also in January 2001, Investigators discovered that Pettyjohn and Eldred rented a Fort Wayne, Indiana motel room, which authorities found covered in animal feces. Authorities believe the two killed gerbils there with a pellet gun or slingshot.

Clearwater, Florida, Attorney Denis de Valming, who has represented numerous high-profile cases, represented Eldred at a "reduced rate" because he wanted to make sure the teen got a fair trial. DeValming stated "in cases like this when the public's sentiment is so tremendous against the citizen, they are certainly entitled to be treated fairly. Eldred was charged as an adult. Christie Pardo of Tampa, FL represented Pettyjohn.

In October 2000, Eldred ran through an intersection, crashing into a car and killed a man. He was not charged. He also has a juvenile record from age 14 for robbery.

On March 1st, 2001, Eldred and Pettyjohn were charged with shooting an $8,000 bull to death with arrows. Eldred was also charged with hacking a 3rd llama, 3-year-old Sir Lancelot in the face with a titanium meat clever on January 30, 2001. Investigators believe Pettyjohn was present at the 3rd llama attack but only one person was doing the slashing. The cleaver was recovered from Pettyjohn's home. Sir Lancelot had a 4-inch-long piece of flesh hanging from his face when his owner found him. Eldred was linked to the slashing after somebody came forward and implicated him.

Deputies issued a warrant for Pettyjohn for the January 17th, 2001 attack on the 2 bulls at a ranch in Odessa. Both Eldred and Pettyjohn were charged with criminal mischief, armed trespass and 2 counts of aggravated animal abuse. One bull was shot in the stomach and in the ribs with 2 arrows. The other bull was shot with one arrow with minor injuries.

Pettyjohn was born in Largo, FL and adopted as an infant to Bruce and Janet Pettyjohn. He left East Lake High School in 1999 the same year as Eldred. Eldred was born in Plantation and lived in Tampa, Clearwater and Palm Harbor. His parents separated when he was 9. He and his twin sister lived with his mother Martha until he got in an altercation with his mother's boyfriend. At age 14 he returned to his mothers home. On January 23, 2001, a Pinellas Sheriff's Deputy responded to the Eldred home because of a report of family trouble. Eldred told a deputy that he had just gotten back from a 3-day trip to Tallahassee and found that he couldn't unlock the front door. His mother had left a note, taped to the front door, stating that she was throwing him out. His mother told the deputy later that she could no longer cope with his behavior and disrespect. Since he was a juvenile, the deputy told his mother that the law required her to provide him shelter. One week later Eldred, slashed the llama Sir Lancelot

On March 7th, 2001, Pettyjohn was charged with 2 counts of grand theft, including the theft of a compound bow used to kill a bull and taking a van from a golf tournament promoter. The 1999 Green Ford Windstar was recovered in a parking lot north of the Westin Innisbrook Resort with expired tags and a dead battery 10 months later. The van was stolen in May 2000; the bow had been stolen in August 2000, from one of Pettyjohns neighbors. The detectives were able to match it to the bow used in the death of one of the bulls and the injuries to the other bull.

After further investigation, it was discovered that on April 13, 1998, Pettyjohn assaulted a 17-year-old in the neck with a pen in the high school's gym area. Pettyjohn told the juvenile that he had an icepick, was just messing with him, and left the area laughing with his friends. Pettyjohn was charged with aggravated battery in the incident. He was also charged in 1999 for armed burglary and dealing with stolen property. He was accused of breaking into a trailer and trying to pawn the saws that were stolen.

On March 15, 2001, Pettyjohn appeared in court for two hearings. One to get a new attorney and the 2nd for a bond reduction for a domestic violence charge.

On April 3rd, 2001, Pettyjohns attorney asked Judge Richard Luce to release Pettyjohn so he could attend a drug-treatment program in Sanford. The request was denied. His attorney also asked the judge to reduce his bail and declare him partially indigent so tax dollars could be used to pay for some of Pettyjohn's court-related costs for the 2 counts of grand theft, grand theft auto and the burglary charge. Judge Luce did not rule on the motion for partial indigence, but did adjust Pettyjohn's bail for those 4 charges to $10,000 each. Despite that bond reduction, Pettyjohn remained in the Pinellas County Jail in lieu of more than $180,000 bail. Pettyjohn was moved to a cell with fewer inmates for his own safety.

In October 2001, witnesses told Investigators that Pettyjohn and Eldred had killed a neighbors pet goat named Peter and buried the remains on Pettyjohns property. In a sworn statement one witness stated the goat was used as a living pinata, tortured and killed. The witness stated the goat was tied, hung, speared, beaten with a baseball bat and his horns cut off with a machete. Investigators were able to establish that there was a burial site at Pettyjohns former home on Ranch Rd. Another new charge of felony animal cruelty has been added to all the other charges. The necropsy on the goat revealed it was stabbed and beaten to death with a blunt object, its head cracked into 29 pieces. Investigators asked Pettyjohn the motive - his reply "pure pleasure". The necropsy report also included chop wounds on the goat's right horn and stab wounds to the ribs and spinal column. Pettyjohn, now living in New Port Richey, was once again charged and held in the Pasco County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail.

On Tuesday, October 22nd, 2001, Pettyjohn escaped from the Pasco County Jail in Land O' Lakes, Florida. A law enforcement bulletin was issued at about 6:40pm. for the re-arrest of Pettyjohn.

In January 2002, Pettyjohn pleaded no contest to killing a bull with the bow and arrow. His lawyers were trying to get him 5 years in jail and 5 years probation but the judge said no. Before sentencing, Gerald Boutin, a psychologist hired by now retired Dr. Bruce Pettyjohn, told the court that Pettyjohn has multiple psychological problems made worse by drug and alcohol abuse. The psychologist further stated that Pettyjohn suffers from mood swings, paranoia and delusions. Judge Nelly Khouzam sentenced Pettyjohn 10 years in jail, suspended after 3 with an additional 2 years of house arrest and 5 years of probation. He also has 150 hours of community service to be served with an organization that deals with animals. He was also barred from owning animals without the permission of his probation or parole officer. He must also pay $15,000 restitution for the dead bull. If he violates his probation he will have to serve the remaining 7 years in jail. Pettyjohn will serve his time as a youthful offender away from the regular prison population.

An interview summary was among the more than 700 pages of investigative reports, court pleadings and other documents released in response to a public records request to prosecutors. Although most statements that Pettyjohn or Eldred made were redacted, the records added some detail to the animal abuse allegations filed against both Pettyjohn and Eldred in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties.

20 year old David Gary Bowers, an acquaintance of Pettyjohns and Eldred, stated in a sworn statement that Pettyjohn would shoot squirrels with a BB gun, then cut their tails off and he would pin them to a wall in his garage. He also stated that Pettyjohn told him he wanted to go to the nearby mansion of former NBA player Matt Geiger and shoot Geiger's pet buffalo with a bow and arrow.

Another acquaintance, 19 year old Alexander Gregg, told investigators that he knew Pettyjohn had attacked the llamas after reading about Willie Wonka's eye being gouged out in the newspaper. He knew because Pettyjohn had discussed popping out someone's eye to Gregg.

Eldred pled guilty to 2 counts of killing a bull, 1 count of injuring livestock and 1 count of armed trespassing and was sentenced on January 22nd 2002 to 1 year of community control which is similar to house arrest, 4 years probation and fined $15,000. He is not allowed to own any animals and must serve 150 hours of community service, 100 of those with animal services. He must also be evaluated for psychological and substance abuses treatment and also obtains his high school equivalency diploma

Judge Ronald Ficarrotta stated that it was clear to him that there is a difference between Eldred and Pettyjohn. Eldred expressed remorse and regret and with that the judge would give him a chance to turn his life around.

The Hillsborough County Animal Services and the Humane Society of Hillsborough County has refused to allow Eldred to work off his community services in their facilities, stating they do not have the manpower and is not willing to jeopardize the safety of their staff or the animals.

Since Eldreds arrests he has tried to turn his life around. He moved in with his older sister and her husband in Lakeland, who can supervise him more closely than his mother who, travels frequently for her work. He had dropped out of school in 10th grade recently took the GED test and failed. He plans on trying again.

Upon further investigation of Pettyjohn it was discovered that he was selling the prescription drug Xanax. Witnesses stated that they either bought or received Xanax during large parties at his former home. Xanax is used for anxiety or panic attacks.

When Pettyjohn went to court in Pinellas County on February 8th 2002, the Pinellas County Prosecutors and a defense attorney agreed to 5 years in prison followed by five years on probation. Judge Khouzam would not accept the disposition as she didn't think it was appropriate. The Judge rejected the plea agreement stating she wants more jail time and more probation as Pettyjohn has a prior juvenile record, that includes battery on a law enforcement officer and robbery charges as well as the violent and cruel nature of the current charges. Plus Pettyjohn show no remorse whatsoever for is actions stated the judge.

Pettyjohns lawyer, Chip Purcell stated he didn't know what they were going to do next, whether to go to trial or try to negotiate a deal that was more palatable to the judge. Judge Khouzam pointed out in court that Pettyjohn was facing 8 felony charges, each carrying a maximum of 5 years in prison.

On Monday, March 12th, the 2nd District Court of Appeal granted Pettyjohn's request to remove Judge Nelly Khouzam from his case. Pettyjohn claimed he would not get a fair trial in front of the judge. Pettyjohns attorney filed a motion to disqualify Judge Khouzam, stating that she had used a pre-sentence report that was not properly authorized and contained incorrect information when she rejected the proposed plea deal. A new judge now has to be assigned to the case. Pettyjohns lawyer has also requested for a change in venue and is contesting whether the state can use some of Pettyjohns past criminal conduct at trial. Purcell also has filed pretrial motions to throw out Pettyjohn's jailhouse comments. The new judge will have to rule on all these motions, before trial in April. Pettyjohn now list his home address in Holiday, Florida. On March 15th 2002, the corrections deputy that had mistakenly let Pettyjohn escape from custody was suspended for 2 days without pay. It was learned that on October 22nd 2001, Pettyjohn was to be transferred from the Pasco jail to the Pinellas County jail but slipped into a release line instead. For at least 1 1/2 hours 17 deputies and a sheriff's dog searched for Pettyjohn, who turned himself in about 6 hours later.

Since the case is going to trial, Prosecutor Bill Burgess will be able to call Eldred to testify against Pettyjohn as well as a jailhouse informant, who allegedly has information about the crime that has not been released by the police. Jurors may also hear about Eldred and Pettyjohns plan to break into Busch Gardens, a zoo/amusement park, and slaughter the animals. However Burgess pointed out that both the informant and Eldred have credibility problems.

On April 2nd 2002, Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Mark Shames denied a motion by Pettyjohn's lawyer to suppress Pettyjohns statement to the Pinellas County Sheriff's deputy about being involved in the attack on his neighbor's pet llamas. Judge Shames ruled that Sheriff's deputy Frank Felicetta was not investigating Pettyjohn for the attack when the Pettyjohn made the unsolicited comments. Since the statement was made during a "noncustodial, nondetention context," the deputy was not required to have read Pettyjohn his rights. The deputy was the one who found Eldred with his bloodied shirt, walking up the driveway to Pettyjohns house in the early morning of Sunday February 11th 2001. The judge stated that the deputy had no reason to suspect that Pettyjohn had been involved in the attack and was not questioning him about it when Pettyjohn made the unsolicited comments of being involved.

Judge Shames also stated that he would not rule on the motion to have the trial moved out of the Tampa Bay area until after an attempt was made to find jurors. He further stated there have been a handful of previous high-profile cases in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties that were able to find jurors who had not seen or heard media reports on those cases. Judge Shames did decide not to allow evidence from two other incidents to be presented at Pettyjohns trial on April 29, 2002.

Chronological Order of animal cruelty incidents:
June-August 2000, Pettyjohn puts the carcasses of turtles, fish and other small animals on a telephone wire in front of his home.
January-Febuary 2001 - Pettyjohn kills a goat
January 17, 2001 - Pettyjohn and Eldred shoot two bulls
January 19-22, 2001 - Pettyjohn shoots gerbils and hamsters in an Indiana motel
January 30, 2001 - Eldred slashes a llama with a meat cleaver
February 11, 2001 - Pettyjohn and Eldred gouge out the eye of a llama and beat and sodomize another llama


Case Updates

Robert Pettyjohn, who authorities said was part of one of the worst local animal cruelty sprees in recent history, is back in jail on a probation violation charge.

Pettyjohn, 25, is being held without bail at Land O' Lakes Jail. He was arrested about noon today.

Officials said Pettyjohn violated his 9 p.m. curfew on Friday. They said Pettyjohn went to Orlando without the permission of his probation officer.

Pettyjohn was sentenced in Hillsborough County to three years in prison for using a bow and arrows to shoot bulls in Odessa in 2001. He received a concurrent five-year term in Pinellas County on other cruelty charges.

Authorities said Pettyjohn and Brandon Eldred used a golf club to sodomize and kill a nursing mother llama and gouge the eye out of a baby llama in rural East Lake in Pinellas.

Eldred received a three-year sentence in both counties. He originally was placed on house arrest but was sent to prison after seven violations of the terms of his house arrest.

The Llama attack was the culmination of a two-month crime spree in early 2001. The string of incidents included killing one bull and injuring another in an Odessa pasture, torturing a goat to death in East Lake, and using a meat cleaver to slice open the face of a llama off Old Keystone Road in Pinellas. The pair said they were high on drugs and alcohol.
Source: Tampa Tribune - Oct 20, 2008
Update posted on Oct 21, 2008 - 2:01AM 
5/2/02 - Prosecutors tried to get Eldred's bail revoked and have him sent to jail until he can be sentenced for beating 3 llamas. Prosecutors stated that Eldred has violated his probation by missing court-appointments, failing to do all the required community services, being cited for careless driving for racing another vehicle in March (2002) and admitting to a deputy that he had consumed alcohol. Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Mark Shames denied the state's motion.

Update: 4/26/02 Pettyjohn pled guilty to animal cruelty charges and will go to prison for the next eight years. 3 of the years are for the shooting of two bulls and the other 5 years for the llama beatings. The prison sentences will run consecutively. After prison he will be on 5 years probation for 9 third degree felony charges of distribution of a controlled substance, to burglary to grand theft. In addition Pettyjohn will have to pay more than $10,000 restitution, $7200 will go to the victims. If he violates his parole it could get him an additional 40 years in jail.
Update posted on Feb 5, 2003 - 11:25AM 

References

  • The St. Petersburg Times
  • 28 News - WFTS
  • News 10 WTSP-TV
  • The Miami Herald
  • Bay News 9
  • The Tampa Tribune
  • Court TV
  • The Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney's Office

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