Andrew McCarriston pleaded not guilty to a charge of animal cruelty, stemming from the beating and stabbing death of his family's Maltese dog, Coco, back in April.
McCarriston's mother, who brought the deceased dog to a Peabody veterinary clinic to be cremated, told investigators that she believes her son had a "psychotic episode" after she briefly left him alone in the house while she ran an errand.
When she returned, she told investigators, McCarriston told her he'd killed the dog.
McCarriston's mental state at the time of the incident is expected to become an issue in the case.
X-rays of the dog revealed skull fractures and severed vertebrate and a puncture wound to the tiny dog's head.
McCarriston was arrested in May following his release from the hospital. But after his initial court appearances in Lynn District Court, he was sent to Worcester Recovery Center, a state-run mental health hospital, for evaluation.
Judge Timothy Feeley agreed to keep McCarriston there as his case moves to Superior Court, following his indictment last month.
The judge also continued to keep the same bail, $25,000 cash, in place, along with conditions that include a GPS monitoring bracelet, an order that he not possess or be around animals, that he stay away from the family home and not abuse witnesses in the case. Those conditions will go into effect if he or his family posts bail in the case. His attorney, Randy Chapman, told the judge there are not currently any plans to post that bail.
A pre-trial hearing in the case is scheduled for Oct. 17.
(Salem News - Aug 3, 2016)
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