Box of drowned kittens found in creek - Pilot Grove, TX

Wednesday, May 11, 2005

County: Collin

Disposition: Dismissed

Person of Interest: Earl Rutledge

Case Updates: 3 update(s) available

A woman discovered a box of drowned kittens in Pilot Grove Creek on the afternoon of May 11 in Collin County. She called the Society For the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals because she said she saw the man who tossed the box over the bridge on Highway 121.

She was able to give SPCA officials a description of the man as well as his license plate number.

The SPCA has turned the case over to the Collin County Sheriff's Department.

Case Updates

North Texas grand jury has decided not to indict a man accused of dropping a box of four kittens into a creek, drowning them all.The Collin County grand jury heard from 62-year-old Earl Rutledge of Trenton before dismissing animal cruelty charges against the man. His wife, Betty Rutledge, says her husband thought the kittens had been abandoned by their mother and were already dead. County spokeswoman Leigh Hornsby says any number of factors could have influenced the panel's decision -- from a lack of probable cause to a judgment that the case was not worth pursuing.

Source: kvia.com - June 15, 2005 Update posted on Jun 15, 2005 - 7:51AM

A tip led Collin County sheriff's deputies to a man who they say drowned four kittens in a creek. Earl Rutledge, 62, of Trenton, was arrested Tuesday afternoon. He is now facing one felony count of animal cruelty. Police said a witness called 911 and then the Society For the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals after she saw someone matching Rutledge's description throw the box into Pilot Grove Creek. The case is now headed to a grand jury.

Source: NBC 5 - May 18, 2005 Update posted on May 20, 2005 - 10:24PM

The SPCA of Texas says Collin County Sheriff's deputies have arrested a 62-year-old Trenton, Texas, man on a felony count of animal cruelty in the case of the box of kittens thrown into a creek last week. Charges haven't been filed yet, the SPCA says. The case will go before a grand jury. Four kittens drowned as the man drove away and a witness tried to save them.

Update posted on May 18, 2005 - 10:55AM

References

• - May 12, 2005
• « TX State Animal Cruelty Map
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