The family tells KOIN that a neighbor found the remains of one of their dogs while hunting. The other dog was found dead nearby. Both dogs had slicing wounds, described as "clean" and initially thought by the family to be made by a hatchet.
On Tuesday the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office distributed the following in a news release:
"On Thursday, November 15, 2012, at about 5 p.m., a resident of Eagle Creek called 9-1-1 to report that he had found his two dogs dead -- presumably killed with an ax -- in a wooded area behind his property. The dogs had been missing since Monday, November 13.
"Japheth (JP) Stalcup, (aka Japheth Stalcup) age 25, called Clackamas County 9-1-1 to report finding his two missing dogs dead in the wooded area behind his house in the 24000 block of SE Sweetwater Lane. He told the dispatcher his dogs looked like they had been bludgeoned with an ax.
"A Clackamas County Sheriff's Office deputy arrived and was told by Mr. Stalcup that his two dogs -- Duke, a black Labrador, and Buddy, a Labrador and Blue Heeler mix -- had been missing since Monday.
"Mr. Stalcup had located both dogs down a steep embankment within 100 yards from his house.
"The deputy was able to locate both of the dogs. Both Duke and Buddy had serious injuries consistent with Mr. Stalcup's belief they had been bludgeoned with an axe. The deputy also noted there were no other injuries on the animals -- ruling out the likelihood of a predator animal attack.
"The bodies of both dogs were seized, and necropsies were performed by veterinarians at the Oregon Humane Society. The vets confirmed that both Duke and Buddy died from blows from some sort of sharp implement.
"A deputy is assigned this investigation -- with potential charges of Aggravated Animal Abuse I in the deaths of both dogs.
(KOIN - Nov 20, 2012)
