(May 2017) South Carolina: Joseph Floyd, 20, and Zachary Brown, 21, arrested after shocking pictures emerge showing the heartless suspects torturing a baby alligator for fun

SOUTH CAROLINA -- Two men have been charged with harassing a baby alligator after they forced the helpless animal's jaws open and made it drink beer.

Shocking images show the suspects prying the reptile's jaws open as they pour beer down its throat.

They added this caption, believing themselves to be so
clever. Instead, most people who saw this were horrified
and disgusted with Joseph Floyd Jr and Zachary Brown

The two men captured the sickening act on  Snapchat before the images were uploaded to Facebook.

Joseph Andrew Floyd (Joe Floyd, Joseph Floyd Jr.), 20, and Zachary Lloyd Brown (Zack Brown), 21, both of Ridgeland, were each charged with harassment of an alligator, The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources said on Friday.

They admitted to officers that they picked up the alligator after they saw it crossing the a public dirt road between Hardeeville and Tillman in Jasper County.

They then poured beer into the animal’s mouth and took photos to post on social media.

According to Floyd Jr., they CLAIMED they released the alligator and watched it swim away in a nearby pond.

The pair now face a maximum $300 fine. 

The shocking photographs which were posted on Snapchat show an 18-to-20 inch alligator being held by an individual as its jaws are forced open.

Another image shows someone blowing smoke into the alligator's mouth – what's known as 'shotgun' style.

The images are more horrifying because the people involved are seen squeezing the gator's throat.

'The photos were uploaded onto Snapchat by one of the kids doing harm to the animal, people saw it, got angry and they did screen shots of the images,' said Kyndel McConchie of the SC Department of Natural Resources.

Since Kyndel McConchie is referring to two men, ages 20 and 21, as "kids" then I'll go ahead and add a "child is abuser" tag to this post.

'That's how it came to our attention.'

So far, authorities are not specifying where or when these incidents took place.

'It almost brought me to tears,' one disgusted person said in a Facebook post.

'People torturing a baby gator, pouring beer in its mouth, blowing smoke in its mouth, just being plain cruel....It literally made me sick to my stomach.'

That baby alligator is dead. There's no way they simply turned it loose when torturing it was so much fun for them. Children and adolescents who derive pleasure from the torment, torture, abuse and deaths of animals have serious psychological issues that need to be addressed immediately. 

(Daily Mail - May 26, 2017)

Ohio: Case of puppy forced to drink alcohol until it was drunk - Tanna Howser, Farrell Weger and Jennifer Schwab set to appear before judge June 9th

OHIO -- The case involving three Ashtabula residents who police say gave alcohol to a puppy will be heard June 9, according to Municipal Court records.

Tanna J. Howser, 32, Jennifer Schwab, 36, and Farrell Weger, 39, are charged with cruelty to companion animals, a first-degree Misdemeanor, according to court records.

 

 

Schwab and Howser are expected to change their pleas to guilty at 1:15 p.m. June 9th.

Weger is scheduled for a pre-trial appearance the same day before Acting Judge David Sheldon.

Weger has an unrelated domestic violence charge pending in Municipal Court. He was scheduled to face the domestic violence charge at 2:15 p.m. Dec. 27, 2016 for a pre-trial.

All three pleaded not guilty at their respective arraignments and are free on $1,000 personal recognizance bonds, according to court records.

Before a scheduled hearing last month, Weger said he will not plead guilty because he is innocent. He says the women posted a photo of the puppy sleeping and “as a joke” placed in on Facebook, claiming the puppy was drunk.

INCIDENT HAPPENED BACK IN DECEMBER 2016

Facebook users then alerted police about photos of an intoxicated dog posted on the social media site.

Police arrived at a home in the 300 block of West 53rd Street at 3:45 p.m. Monday after receiving calls about photos of an intoxicated dog posted on Facebook. Police were told the puppy was intentionally given vodka and Kahlua, according to the police report.

Schwab told police Weger gave the four-month-old puppy alcoholic drinks.

Howser then posted the photo of the puppy on Facebook with the caption, “lilybug is drunk she pass the (expletive) out on us LOL,” according to police.

After Schwab told police it was Weger who'd given the puppy vodka and Kahlua, Weger then claimed said he only gave the puppy "a few licks" of an alcoholic beverage before going to bed.

The city’s animal control officer, Derrell McCaleb, removed the dog from the home and took it to the Animal Protective League in Kingsville, where it was placed in a foster home.

(Star Beacon - May 10, 2017)

Earlier:

• Ohio: Jennifer Schwab, 36; Tanna Howser, 32, and Farrell Weger, 39, forced 6-week-old puppy to drink vodka, say police
• Ohio: Farrell Weger, one of three people accused of forcing a puppy to drink alcohol, says he only gave her "three licks"
• Ohio: Drunk puppy Farrell Weger defendant pleads not guilty; has unrelated domestic violence charge he's dealing with
• Ohio: Ashtabula drunk puppy case goes to court Jan. 25, 2017

Virginia: Brandon Gillie wanted for torturing, mutilating, killing puppies

VIRGINIA -- It was last spring when Petersburg Police were called to Trailer 32 at the Shady Grove mobile home park on North Steadman Road.

They found a gruesome scene where three puppies had been mutilated, tortured and killed.

  

 

They are now reaching out to the public in an attempt to put the man they say is responsible, Brandon Gillie, 26, behind bars.

"[Gillie and his girlfriend] had just gotten the puppies a few weeks prior," said Detective Thomas Ewers with the Petersburg Police Department.

“He forced them to swallow several items, including firecrackers and poison,” Detective Ewers said.

But the torture didn’t stop there, police say. While the puppies were still alive, Gillie dismembered and mutilated the dogs. It all happened in the back yard of a now abandoned trailer.

“He cut their bodies open, and when he cut their bodies open, he also tried to glue it back together,” Ewers said. “He put glue over the dogs’ faces, including their muzzle, I guess in an attempt keep the dogs from being loud or trying to suffocate them.”

"It was a process, we're not talking about a couple minutes of torturing, we're talking about hours and hours of him methodically torturing and killing these animals," said Ewers.

Brandon's girlfriend discovered what he had done and called the police to report it. However, she is no longer cooperating with authorities, police said, and Gillie remains on the run.

“This is probably the worse case I’ve seen or heard of since I’ve been a detective,” Detective Ewers said.

Gillie’s next door neighbor recalls hearing Gillie sitting outside talking during the night in question, but she had no idea what he was actually doing.

NECROPSY RESULTS

Court documents obtained by CBS 6 show the dogs had an adhesive material on their muzzles and bodies.

Lab results revealed the dog's stomachs contained both over the counter and prescription medications, as well as insecticide.

Conover said that what happened to the puppies was done over a period of time.

"They were tortured, there was evidence of burning," she added.

The necropsy also revealed that two of the puppies had full firecrackers in their stomach.

HELP FIND BRANDON GILLIE

Police say they need the public’s help catching Gillie before he has the chance to do something like this again.

“It could lead to other crimes that could be worse. It could be to other animals, it could be to a person – you just never know, and it’s very concerning,” Ewers said.

Gillie has a large network of family and friends spread out around Chesterfield and Henrico.

"He still could be in the Tri-Cities area, most likely he's up in the Hanover and Ashland area," said Ewers.

Police are hoping someone has information that will help get Brandon Gillie off the streets.

"To get him help and make sure that he is okay and nothing like this happens to any animal or person."

Places Gillie has lived:
Prince George, Virginia
Petersburg, Virginia
Henrico, Virginia
Chester, Virginia
Hopewell, Virginia

Says he works at powerplants "all over the state"

If you know where Brandon Gillie is, call Petersburg Police at 804-732-4222 or Crime Solvers at 804-861-1212.

  

 

  

PREVIOUS ARREST INFO:

Name: Brandon Michael Gillie
Detention Date: April 19th, 2013
Location:
Hanover County, VA
Gender: Male
Age: 23
Height: 5' 10"
Weight: 150 Lbs
Race: White
Charges:
#1 136787 WPN5212M1 FIREARM VIOLATION AFTER INVOLUNTARY COMMITMENT
#2 136788 WPN5281F5 FALSE STATEMENT ON FIREARM CONSENT FORM

Full Name: Brandon Michael Gillie
Arrest date: October 14th, 2013
Location: Henrico County, VA
Arrest Age: 23
Charges: 2111 - Dui-Motor Vehicle-Wt Accident
18.2-266 - Dwi: 1St Offense

Full Name: Brandon Michael Gillie
Date of Birth: 08/xx/xxxx
Race: White
Address:
City: Petersburg
State: VA
Zip Code: 23803
Charging County: Prince George County, Virginia
Case Number: GT16003212-00
Statute: 46.2-817B
Charge Date: 06/01/2016
Charge: Elude/Disregard Police Felony

(WNCN - Jan 27, 2017)

Ohio: Ashtabula drunk puppy case goes to court Jan. 25, 2017

OHIO -- Three people who police say gave alcohol to a puppy are scheduled to appear in court next month, according to Municipal Court records.

Tanna Howser, 32; Jennifer Schwab, 36, and Farrell Weger, 39, all of Ashtabula, are charged with cruelty to companion animals, a first-degree misdemeanor, according to court records.

The threesome’s pretrials are set for the same time and day — 2 p.m. Jan. 25 — before Acting Judge David Sheldon. All three pleaded not guilty at their respective arraignments and are free on $1,000 personal recognizance bonds, according to court records.

Weger has an unrelated domestic violence charge pending in Municipal Court. He is scheduled to face the domestic violence charge at 2:15 p.m. Dec. 27 for a pretrial.

 

 

Facebook users alerted police about photos of an intoxicated dog posted on the social media site. Police then went to a home in the 300 block of West 53rd Street on Nov. 28, where they were told the puppy was intentionally given an alcoholic drink, according to the police report.

Schwab told police Weger gave the four-month-old puppy alcoholic drinks. Howser then posted the photo on Facebook with the caption, “lilybug is drunk she pass the (expletive) out on us LOL,” according to police.

The city’s animal control officer, Derrell McCaleb, removed the dog from the home and took it to the Animal Protective League in Kingsville Township, according to his report.

Weger has denied giving the puppy anything more than “three licks” from a bottle of pre-mixed screwdriver, which contains vodka. He said the incident occurred around 10 p.m. Nov. 27 and then he went to bed because he had to get up for work the next day.

He said Schwab, who is now his ex-girlfriend, and Howser, who was their roommate, posted the photo of the puppy on Facebook as “a joke” while he was asleep.

After reviewing the police report, City Solicitor Michael Franklin charged all three with the first-degree misdemeanor, records show.

(Star Beacon - Dec 30, 2016)

Earlier:

• Ohio: Jennifer Schwab, 36; Tanna Howser, 32, and Farrell Weger, 39, forced 6-week-old puppy to drink vodka, say police
• Ohio: Farrell Weger, one of three people accused of forcing a puppy to drink alcohol, says he only gave her "three licks"
• Ohio: Drunk puppy Farrell Weger defendant pleads not guilty; has unrelated domestic violence charge he's dealing with

Ohio: Drunk puppy Farrell Weger defendant pleads not guilty; has unrelated domestic violence charge he's dealing with

OHIO -- One of three defendants who are accused of giving alcohol to a puppy has pleaded not guilty.

Farrell Weger, 39, appeared for his arraignment Wednesday in Municipal Court and requested a court-appointed attorney, according to court records.

Weger, his ex-girlfriend Jennifer Schwab, 36, and her roommate Tanna Howser, 32, all of Ashtabula, are charged with cruelty to companion animals after posting a photo on Facebook of the dog passed out on the floor.

The charge is a first-degree misdemeanor upon conviction, and a felony upon any further convictions, City Solicitor Michael Franklin said.

The women are scheduled to appear in Municipal Court for their arraignments at 8:45 a.m. Wednesday, court records show.

 

Weger has an unrelated domestic violence charge pending in Municipal Court. He is scheduled to face the domestic violence charge at 2:15 p.m. Dec. 27 for a pretrial.

Municipal Judge Laura DiGiacomo is scheduled to preside over Weger’s pretrial in the drunk puppy case at 2:15 p.m. March 14.

Weger has denied giving the 4-month-old puppy enough alcohol to hurt the dog or get her drunk. He said he only gave the puppy “three licks” from a bottle of pre-mixed screwdrivers that he was drinking before going to bed.

Weger charges that after he went to bed that night, Schwab and Howser posted a photo of the puppy on Facebook with the caption, “lilybug is drunk she pass the (expletive) out on us LOL.”

He believes the posting was meant to be a joke, he said.

Weger went to the Justice Center on Monday to talk to Franklin about the charges, he said.

Afterwards, City Solicitor Michael Franklin said it is not unusual for people involved in illegal activity to admit to a portion and deny a portion, or to minimize their participation.

“I think the real problem here is giving a puppy any alcohol at all,” he said. “Why would you do that?”

(Star Beacon - Dec 17, 2016)

Earlier:

• Ohio: Jennifer Schwab, 36; Tanna Howser, 32, and Farrell Weger, 39, forced 6-week-old puppy to drink vodka, say police
• Ohio: Farrell Weger, one of three people accused of forcing a puppy to drink alcohol, says he only gave her "three licks"

Ohio: Farrell Weger, one of three people accused of forcing a puppy to drink alcohol, says he only gave her "three licks"

OHIO -- A 39-year-old man cited for giving alcohol to a puppy says the dog wasn't drunk.

"She didn't even have a buzz," said Farrell Weger, 39, of Ashtabula. "The puppy plays rough. She was just tired."

The incident occurred about 10 p.m. Nov. 27 while he was drinking a pre-mixed screwdriver, he said.

 

Weger said he only gave the four-month-old puppy "three licks" from the bottle and then he went to bed.

"I had to go to bed because I have to work," he said.

The original article says the puppy was given vodka and Kahlua. A screwdriver is vodka and orange juice. Who gave the puppy the Kahlua?? Also, I've never seen a bottle of "pre-mixed" screwdriver for sale... 

Plus, Weger didn't tell police what he'd done until his now ex-girlfriend Scwab pointed the finger at him and told police he's the one who'd done it. I don't think the puppy was passed out drunk, but something's not right with his story.

While he was sleeping, Weger said his ex-girlfriend, Jennifer Schwab, 36, and their roommate, Tanna J. Howser, 32, posted a photo of the puppy on Facebook with the caption, "lilybug is drunk she pass the (expletive) out on us LOL."

City Solicitor Michael Franklin has charged all three with cruelty to companion animals, a first-degree misdemeanor, according to court records.

As of Monday afternoon, Weger said he had not talked to Franklin or the police about his side of the story.

Franklin was in court Monday afternoon and could not be reached for comment.

Ashtabula Police Chief Robert Stell said he has not heard from Weger.

Police arrived at Weger's home in the 300 block of West 53rd Street at 3:45 p.m. Nov. 28 after receiving calls about photos of an intoxicated dog posted on Facebook.

Schwab told police Weger intentionally gave the puppy alcoholic drinks. Howser then posted the photo on Facebook, according to police reports.

"They threw me under the bus," Weger said. "I wasn't aware of the Facebook post until the next day ... I did not give the puppy enough (alcohol) to hurt her."

Weger said he gave the puppy to Schwab as a gift, but the Facebook incident ended the relationship. He's moved out of the home.

"Really, I think (the posting) was a joke," he said. "I don't think the dog was drunk."

The city's animal control officer, Derrell McCaleb, removed the dog from the home and transported it to the Animal Protective League in Kingsville Township, according to his report.

The past two weeks have been rough for Weger, who says he's getting hate messages.

He believes Schwab's response to critics on Facebook — "It's my dog, I can do what I want" — caused the backlash.

"I have two children, ages 7 and 9, and I have a job," he said. "I have goals for my life and this is a huge setback."

BTW, what he doesn't mention is:

"Weger has an unrelated domestic violence charge pending in Municipal Court. He is scheduled to face the domestic violence charge at 2:15 p.m. Dec. 27 for a pretrial."

MY THOUGHTS

I have sympathy with him - to a point. No he didn't kill an animal. No, no animal suffered serious injury. No, the puppy doesn't appear to have been mentally traumatized. So, no, he doesn't need to be tarred and feathered and banished from society for the rest of his life. However, he needs to man up to what he did. 

Even if he claims he only gave it "three licks" of alcohol, it was stupid to do - a thoughtless mistake that was worsened by his friend taking and posting the photo. That being said, he needs to "man up" and plead guilty and take his punishment. Just as you would when you were a child and admitted to your parents what you'd done and accept the punishment. 

(Star Beacon - December 12, 2016)

Earlier:

• Ohio: Jennifer Schwab, 36; Tanna Howser, 32, and Farrell Weger, 39, forced 6-week-old puppy to drink vodka

Ohio: Jennifer Schwab, 36; Tanna Howser, 32, and Farrell Weger, 39, forced 6-week-old puppy to drink vodka, say police

OHIO -- Three Ashtabula residents who police say gave alcohol to a puppy now face charges of animal cruelty after posting a photo on Facebook of the dog passed out on the floor.

Jennifer Schwab, 36; Tanna J. Howser, 32, and Farrell Weger, 39, all of Ashtabula, are charged with cruelty to companion animals, a first-degree misdemeanor, according to police reports.

Police arrived at a home in the 300 block of West 53rd Street at 3:45 p.m.
Monday after receiving calls about photos of an intoxicated dog posted on Facebook. Police were told the puppy was intentionally given vodka and Kahlua, according to the police report.

Schwab told police Weger gave the three-month-old puppy alcoholic drinks.

Howser then posted the photo on Facebook with the caption, "lilybug is drunk she pass the (expletive) out on us LOL," according to the police report.

The dog was removed from the home by the city's animal control officer, Derrell McCaleb, who took the puppy to the Animal Protective League in Kingsville Township, according to his report.

City Solicitor Michael Franklin filed the charges Thursday.

"The Facebook screenshots give a disturbing view of the thought processes of these people," Franklin said.

 

Municipal Court officials will send a summons to the three, or have it delivered today by a bailiff, police said.

Franklin said the charge is a first-degree misdemeanor upon a first conviction, and a felony upon any further convictions.

(Star Beacon - Dec 1, 2016)