Justin Niederhelman charged with beating his dad's Dachshund to death with a flashlight, hiding body in dog food bag

FLORIDA -- A Brooksville, Florida man was charged with fatally beating his family's small dog and then hiding the gruesome crime by putting the body in a dog food bag.

WSTP News reported yesterday that Justin Niederhelman, 23, allegedly killed his father's dachshund after beating it in the head with a flashlight.

Bay 9 News reported yesterday that Niederhelman faces one count of animal cruelty in addition to violating his pre-trial release for a July 21 arrest for felony domestic violence that involved his father.

Niederhelman was prohibited from having any contact with his father, Thomas Niederhelman, as a condition of his release.

According to Real News Real Fast, Justin Niederhelman admitted to his father that he repeatedly struck the dachshund in the head with a flashlight. Hernando County Sheriff's deputies responded to a call late on Thursday night, arriving at the home on High Corner Road at 11:00 p.m. The sheriff's office investigated the death of the 7-year-old dog, who was an apparent victim of this family feud.

According to Thomas Niederhelman, his son struck the dog in the head with a flashlight, wrapped the dog in a blanket, placed it in a dog food bag, and then took the bag outside. Justin Niederhelman denied being at the residence or being involved with the dog's death, but his mother, Mary Niederhelman, refuted this, stating that her son had been at the home that day.

Animals are often an "easy target" during incidents of domestic violence. According to the American Humane Association, 71% of women who were entering women's shelters reported that their abuser had committed a violent act - or even killed - one of their animals.

Numerous studies have shown an established correlation between animal abuse and crimes against human victims. According to the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), those who commit violent crimes against nonhuman animals are more likely to commit violent crimes against humans than those who don't hurt animals.

The Animal Law Center found that "people who commit acts of cruelty towards animals rarely stop there. Murderers and people who abuse their spouse or children had frequently harmed animals in the past."

Justin Niederhelman is currently being held without bond at the Hernando County Detention Facility. Jail records did not indicate an attorney for him at this time.

(Examiner.com - Aug 15, 2015)