California: Jorge Ramos, 22, gets probation after beating his puppy with a rock until he killed her then dumping her body into the trash

CALIFORNIA -- A former Pacific Beach man with schizophrenia who abused and beat his small puppy to death was sentenced Feb. 26 to a suspended one year jail term with probation conditions while he lives with his parents in South Gate in Los Angeles County.

Some former neighbors of Jorge Ramos, 22, spoke to San Diego Superior Court Judge Michael Groch about their concerns that he not return to the apartment complex where he lived in Pacific Beach.

“The neighbors were horrified. The puppy cried out in pain for an hour (before he finally killed her),” said a woman named Janice. “Ramos did not show mercy on behalf of his puppy; mercy should not be shown to him.”

Deputy District Attorney Karra Reedy said a restraining order blocked Ramos from returning to the apartment complex and his belongings were moved out by someone else as he relocated to his parents’ home.

“This is a case the Pacific Beach community did care about as it happened in public,” said Reedy, showing the judge a stack of 25 to 30 letters written to her office.

Ramos was seen hunched over hitting something with a rock. Tragically, by the time the witness realized it was a small black puppy, it was too late; Ramos picked the lifeless animal up by its tail and tossed it into the dumpster.

When the neighbor approached him and asked him why he killed the puppy, Ramos stated the puppy had cancer. He then reached in and pulled the dead puppy out of the trash.

When police arrived, Ramos said the "spirits" commanded him to kill the pup.

Investigators found that the pit bull puppy named Luna, had been beaten and  killed with a rock and her small body was abandoned in a dumpster on Oct. 20 in an alley near Oliver Avenue and Jewel Street. Ramos pleaded guilty to felony animal cruelty. 

Ramos’ attorney, Danaly Barajas, told the judge he suffers from schizophrenia and hears voices. “Being off his medication led to this incident, this case,” she said.

Ramos is now enrolled in college while with his parents in Los Angeles County and is also working, said Barajas. “This is never going to happen again,” she said. She said he is seeing a psychiatrist regularly.

Groch ordered Ramos not to drink alcohol or possess it during his five year probation time. He was barred from possessing or owning any animals. “Not even a goldfish,” said Groch, who asked Ramos if his parents had pets.

“We don’t have any pets,” said Ramos.

Groch ordered Ramos to pay restitution to the county animal services department and he received credit for spending 68 days in jail.

(San Diego Community News Group - Feb 29, 2016)