OKLAHOMA -- An Oklahoma City man is accused of a disturbing case of animal cruelty.
Oklahoma City police said they found a 6-week-old pit bull puppy that had been tortured and killed underneath his bed.
Dallas Hicks, 19, was booked into the Oklahoma County jail on Sunday.
His mother would not talk on camera, but she told News 9 he needs mental help.
It was just after 6:30 a.m. Sunday that Oklahoma City police arrived to a white house on East Park Place.
Inside they found Hicks, his mom and her boyfriend, and then they made the gruesome discovery.
When police went inside Hick’s room they found a serrated survival style knife with a 12 inch blade under the bed. They also found a dog food bag with the puppy’s tiny body wrapped in bloody plastic. The puppy had been disemboweled, according to police.
Then, on Hicks’ phone, police found pictures of the dead puppy in the bathtub.
“They just moved here,” said Ann Denson, who lives down the street.
Denson said the family moved in a couple of months ago and never caused her any concern, although their older dogs did.
She and others said they would often run loose in the neighborhood.
“I’m afraid to walk down the street now,” said Denson.
“They just run wild everywhere in the neighborhood,” said Among Thompson who also lives nearby and won’t walk by Hicks’ home because of it. “Chasing people and everything else so I have see that and I have run from them.”
But both Denson and Thompson are shocked to hear about the gruesome puppy death that occurred inside the home located so close to theirs.
“That’s kind of a scary feeling to know you have someone that lives that close to you that would do an animal live that,” said Denson.
“If he’s killing animals like that, there’s no telling what’s going on in that house,” said Thompson.
The police report states Hicks reportedly told his mother, “Mom, I messed up. I hurt the puppy,” and then said he didn’t mean to do it.
Hicks is being held on a $2,000 bond. He is yet to be formally arraigned or charged.
WHY WOULD DALLAS HICKS TAKE A PHOTO OF THE DEAD PUPPY?
Heather Sutfin's article is titled "
Haunting Photographs Taken By Murderers":
It is not uncommon to hear of murderers collecting trophies from their victims.
Psychologists theorize that this phenomena is likely because killers like to prolong the thrill of their exploits.
By taking a small memento to remind them of the crime they are able to relive that fantasy again and again.
For murderers these souvenirs are indicative of a great accomplishment, much like many of us may collect newspaper clippings or small trinkets to remind us of our academic or athletic achievements.
Some killers may collect jewelry or personal items of their victims, but others like to truly capture the memory of the kill with photographs of their crimes.
John Douglas wrote an article called "
Why Killers Take Trophies":
Killers like to take trophies and souvenirs from their victims. Keeping some memento — a lock of hair, jewelry, newspaper clips of the crime — helps prolong, even nourish, their fantasy of the crime. In my research, I’ve seen this happen again and again.
Between crimes — often while targeting future victims — they’ll pull out their trophies and just sit back in their La-Z Boy chairs and relive the crime over and over in their minds.
Though they may say they committed the crime, they never really accept responsibility. They’ll blame it on someone else, or their upbringing, or say they were abused as kids.
They’ll never say, “Gee, I’m so sorry for what I’ve done here.” The tears may well up in their eyes, but — and I’ve always said this — they’re crying for themselves. They could care less about the victim.
(
News9 - Oct 24, 2016)
