 14 year old dog severely beaten during break-in
Springville, UT (US)Date: Sep 12, 2004
County: Utah
Local Map: available
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Zacharay Costanzo
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Zachary Costanzo appeared in court after avoiding arrest on burglary charges for months. Costanzo, 20, of Reno, Nev., was arrested Tuesday by Lehi police on a warrant and unrelated charges. He faces two charges of residential burglary, as well as charges of theft of more than $27,000 in cash, witness tampering, evidence destruction, criminal mischief and animal cruelty. Utah County Sheriff's Deputy Sean Bell said that Costanzo has confessed to the crime. A judge set Costanzo's bail at $25,000.
According to court records, Costanzo, along with some friends, broke into then-Hobble Creek resident Vern Stratton's home Sept. 12, 2005. Stratton said he believes the suspects also broke into the house earlier that week, taking $1,500 in cash and "casing out the place" for later.
In the Sept. 12 burglary, Stratton said $24,667 was taken from his home. "They came, and they kicked my door in, in my house, and they got a power saw and a great big sledgehammer and tipped my safe." Stratton said that the money isn't something he normally has in his home. He owns the Rainbow Garden fruit stand on 490 S. State St. in Provo, and he said money sometimes sits in the safe before it goes to the bank.
During the second break-in, the suspects attacked Stratton's Labrador, Rowdy, then 14 years old. Stratton returned from a day working on the farm to find his home burglarized and Rowdy bleeding. "They took a tire iron and put a hole in my dog. Either that or kicked her with a boot or something," Stratton said. Rowdy required 13 stitches.
Bell said there are other suspects in the crime still at large, but that Costanzo's arrest is a major development. He said several people involved have confessed and are working with the Sheriff's Office to solve the crime. Neighborhood MapFor more information about the Interactive Animal Cruelty Maps, see the map notes.
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