Dog shot and killed with arrow Cumming, GA (US) Incident Date: Friday, Nov 12, 2004 County: Forsyth Local Map: available Disposition: Convicted Abuser/Suspect: Ted Williams Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

Case ID: 4875 Classification: Shooting Animal: dog (non pit-bull) View more cases in GA (US) Animal was offleash or loose Abuse was retaliation against animal's bad behavior Login to Watch this Case

A man accused of killing his neighbor's pet Labrador by shooting an arrow into it went on trial in June 2005, claiming he was justified in protecting his chickens from the dog.

Ted Williams, 45, of Nicholson Road in northern Forsyth County, faces one felony count of aggravated cruelty to animals.

In opening statements to a Forsyth County Superior Court jury on June 21, Williams' defense attorney said there would be no dispute that his client killed the 3-year-old dog named Molly.

"There was no maliciousness in this act," appointed defense lawyer Jeffrey Cox told the jury. "Was it tragic that Molly was killed? Yes. But that doesn't make it a crime. His only intent was to protect his chickens, his livelihood."

According to court testimony, on the morning of Nov. 12 the wounded dog showed up on the doorstep of its owners, Christopher and Kim McBrayer, siblings in their 20s who lived with their mother and stepfather at 8080 Nicholson d.

Their mother, Sandra Baker, testified she heard a loud yelp and opened the kitchen door to see the family pet with an arrow sticking out of its right side.

"I screamed, and my daughter came running," Baker testified. "Then we called 911."

Animal control officers helped the family load the dog onto a pickup truck and it was taken to Orr Animal Hospital, where veterinarians performed surgery.

Dr. Erin Orr testified that the dog had a 2- or 3-inch wound where the arrow had penetrated its side just behind the rib cage. The arrow entered at an angle toward the dog's abdomen, where it lacerated three areas of the intestine and the pancreas, she said.

The dog died about five hours after being taken to the hospital from a suspected blood clot, Orr said.

Christopher McBrayer testified that Molly "was a well-trained dog, real smart and loving. She was always real good to us. When I heard (she was shot), I was upset. She was one of my favorite dogs, and I was just hoping she was going to be OK."

The dog's owners testified that Molly occasionally escaped from her holding pen outside, but denied that she had ever attacked or even threatened their neighbor's chickens.

Baker said her neighbor often exhibited odd behavior, including "chanting and yelling" as he paced along the driveway.

"Did the defendant ever say anything to you about Molly and his chickens?" Assistant District Attorney David Lyles asked.

"No, all he did was yell," Baker said.

A Forsyth County sheriff's detective who went to talk to Williams about the dog's wounds said the defendant was boastful and unapologetic.

When Investigator Jeff Robertson broached the subject about someone in the area with a bow and arrow, Williams blurted out, "I killed the .... out of that dog," according to testimony.

Williams asked if the dog had lived, and when told it hadn't, he replied "good," according to the detective.

"He stated he was inside his trailer and he shot the dog through the kitchen window," Robertson testified.

The dog was shot in the front of the home, while the majority of Williams' 60 to 100 chickens were in the back, Robertson said.

The prosecution introduced into evidence three compound hunting bows and a quiver of arrows seized by investigators who carried out a search of Williams' trailer.

Williams was arrested shortly after the shooting and posted $2,000 bond. He was jailed for failure to appear in court in March and has remained in custody since.

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References

Forsyth County News - June 23, 2005

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