Steven Lybarger was convicted of felony animal torture (Case # 01CF0110401) and Aggravated Cruelty to Animals (Case #01CM0006313). When his wife refused to come outdoors to a barbecue, he stabbed their 3-month old German Sheperd/Great Dane puppy an estimated 11 times with a steak knife, killing it. This was his third arrest for an animal-related offense, second conviction.
When Lybarger was paroled, he immediately (within 1 week) acquired another puppy. This was publicized by the local newspaper. Lybarger's next urinalysis tested positive for cannabis, a violation of his parole, and he was returned to prison. While there, his new puppy was hit by a car and killed.
Update:
Kathy Lybarger had married Lybarger a little more than a year before the death of this puppy, named Baby. Baby was given to Lybargers mother only about a week before he was stabbed to death. The pup was from a litter of 7 owned by Jeff Pirtle of New Athens, IL. The pup was born on May 12, 2001 to Pirtle,s German sheperd/collie mix named Lady.
Lybarger is the 1st person in St. Clair County to face charges under a state law that allows prosecutors to charge suspects in extremen animal abuse cases with a felony.
Lybarger was sentenced to 1 year in prison after pleading guilty of animal torture. The aggravated cruelty to animals charge was dismissed under the plea bargain. Case Updates| Steven Lybarger is back in prison for a parole violation. Lybarger's parole was revoked on an accusation of illegal drug use. His wife, Kathy, says they have a new 12-week old puppy, Rufus, they adopted from a "free to good home" ad. Their adoption of a new puppy has brought protests from animal protection organizations. In 2001 Lybarger pleaded guilty to stabbing to death his wife's puppy. Four years earlier he was charged with animal cruelty for allegedly dragging a puppy and hanging it by its leash. | Source: St Louis Post-Dispatch - Feb 27, 2002
Update posted on Mar 14, 2005 - 2:02PM |
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