'Horrible and inhumane': Alabama man accused of cooking pet Chihuahua to death over barking
An Alabama man was charged with aggravated animal cruelty after allegedly killing his pet Chihuahua by cooking it in an oven during a family dispute.
James Williamson, a 44 year old man from Atmore, a town near the Florida border, was accused of putting the small dog into a hot oven and blocking the door with a chair to stop it from escaping.
The disturbing act reportedly came after an argument with a relative, during which the Williamson threatened to harm the dog if it didn't stop barking.
Alarmed by the dog's screams, neighbours called the police. However, upon arriving, they found the puppy's charred remains laid out on the driveway, the New York Post reported.
Sergeant Darrell McMann, who responded to the scene, said he was left deeply shaken by what he saw.
'I have a Chihuahua myself,' he said. 'When I got there, I was just at a loss for words, I really was. I just stood there and looked at the dog for a little bit and had to get myself together.'
Williamson is currently being held on a $15,000 bond. If released, he will not be allowed to keep animals. He faces charges of aggravated animal cruelty, a Class C felony under Alabama law.
However, concerns have been raised about the severity of the charge.
Under current legislation, a Class C felony may not carry a lengthy prison sentence, depending on the offender's history and court decisions.
'I think in cases like this, they should be strengthened,' said Sergeant McMann. 'Because I don't think being a class C felony fits what he did. That pretty much describes what he did: horrible and inhumane.'
Animal welfare advocates are now calling for tougher penalties after the case came to light.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
17 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
US jiu-jitsu student awarded $56 million after being paralysed by black-belt instructor
A US jiu-jitsu student who was left paralysed from the neck down after a sparring session with his black-belt instructor has been awarded more than $56 million in damages, according to a report by the New York Post. (Also read: Paralysed woman in China exposes husband who fled with ₹3.5 crore after abusing and deceiving her) The incident occurred in 2018 at the Del Mar Jiu Jitsu Club in San Diego, where then-30-year-old Jack Greener, a beginner white belt, was sparring with his instructor, Francisco Iturralde, a 33-year-old second-degree black belt known by the nickname 'Sinistro'. Greener's injuries were the result of a manoeuvre during the training session, which video footage later showed caused his neck to twist unnaturally. He was on all fours when Iturralde flipped him forward, forcing him face-down and compressing his neck. 'The black belt instructor did a technique that placed his entire body weight on Greener's neck, causing him to instantly fall limp and lose all function of his limbs,' explained Brazilian jiu-jitsu legend Rener Gracie, who testified as an expert witness during the case. The impact crushed Greener's cervical vertebrae, rendering him a quadriplegic. He was hospitalised for months, suffering several strokes as a result of the trauma — all just weeks before he was scheduled to graduate from university. Greener filed a lawsuit against the jiu-jitsu studio, holding both the facility and Iturralde — who gained fame for his 'dynamic, aggressive grappling style' — responsible for the life-altering injury. As per the outlet, in 2023, a San Diego jury awarded Greener $46 million. The studio appealed the verdict, taking the case to the California Supreme Court, which this week declined to overturn the decision. A state appellate panel had previously affirmed the judgment late last year. With post-judgment interest, the total compensation has now surpassed $56 million, Greener's legal team confirmed. 'The final appellate court's ruling cements a critical legal victory not only for our client, but also for injured athletes across California by reaffirming that sports instructors and facilities may be held accountable when they unreasonably increase risks beyond those inherent in the sport,' said Rahul Ravipudi, one of Greener's attorneys. (Also read: Indian-origin student Bandna Bhatti paralysed after tragic fall at UC Berkeley: 'She faces a difficult…') Now a motivational speaker and mountain climber, Greener continues to inspire others while raising awareness about safety and accountability in sports training.
News18
7 hours ago
- News18
US Man Found Guilty Of Killing And Dismembering Teen College Student On First Date
Inside the man's basement, authorities uncovered what they described as a 'sex dungeon,' complete with a sling, restraints, and other paraphernalia. A 34-year-old man in Milwaukee, US, has been found guilty of killing and dismembering a 19-year-old college student on their first date. According to the New York Post, Maxwell Anderson killed Sade Carleena Robinson in April 2024 after the two met for dinner. The woman's remains were discovered in multiple locations along the Lake Michigan shoreline, days after she failed to show up for work. According to prosecutors, the two had gone out for dinner and drinks before heading back to the man's apartment. When the woman didn't return home or report to her job the next day, she was reported missing. Hours later, a severed leg—later identified through DNA testing—was found on the lakefront. Investigators soon discovered a disturbing trail of evidence, including dismembered body parts scattered across the area, surveillance footage placing the woman at the suspect's home, and photos on the man's phone depicting parts of her body. Inside the man's basement, authorities uncovered what they described as a 'sex dungeon," complete with a sling, restraints, and other paraphernalia. Prosecutors also noted that on the night of the killing, the pair had watched an episode of Love, Death & Robots—one centred on a dismembered body washing ashore, eerily mirroring the events that followed. The jury deliberated for just 45 minutes before finding the man guilty of first-degree intentional homicide, mutilating a corpse, hiding a corpse, and arson. Prosecutors said he had planned the killing weeks in advance, preparing his home with plastic sheeting and tools. 'Sade will continue to walk with me daily and right beside me," the victim's mother, Sheena Scarbrough, said after the verdict. 'She will forever be remembered as an angel." The man is scheduled to be sentenced on August 15. He faces life in prison without the possibility of parole. First Published: June 07, 2025, 23:42 IST
NDTV
8 hours ago
- NDTV
US Man, 34, Kills And Dismembers 19-Year-Old College Student On Their First Date
Quick Read Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. A 34-year-old man has been found guilty of murdering and dismembering a 19-year-old woman. The victim, Sade Carleena Robinson, went missing after a dinner date with Maxwell Anderson in April 2024. Anderson's phone contained graphic photos linked to the crime, including evidence of dismemberment. A 34-year-old man in the US has been found guilty of killing and dismembering the body of a 19-year-old girl on their first date after the two watched an episode of a Netflix series with an eerily similar theme. According to the New York Post, Maxwell Anderson killed Sade Carleena Robinson in April 2024 after the two met for dinner. They went to a restaurant and a bar before Anderson invited her to his home in Milwaukee. This was the last time Robinson, a criminal justice student at Milwaukee Area Technical College, was seen alive. The 19-year-old was reported missing the next day, when she didn't show up for her shift at a pizzeria. The police checked her home and found no trace of her. Then, on the same day, cops found her sawed-off leg on the shores of Lake Michigan, as per the outlet. They also found additional body parts, including a foot and human flesh, scattered throughout the city. Prosecutors showed bloodied photos from Anderson's phone to prove he was the teen's killer. One deleted picture recovered by investigators captured Anderson holding Robinson's chopped-off right breast. The jury was told that Anderson committed the heinous crime after he watched a Netflix animated series named 'Love, Death & Robots' with Robinson. One of the episodes in the series showed a dismembered corpse, which was discovered on the beach, similar to Robinson's body. Cops also found a "sex dungeon" in Anderson's home after his arrest. In his basement, he had a "sex sling, restraints and handcuffs," police said. Other photos on Anderson's phone included pictures of the 19-year-old inside his home. The jury described the pictures as graphic and disturbing. "That was pretty damning evidence that shook everyone. I physically felt like I was gonna throw up at that point. I know a lot of people were shaking and crying," juror Melissa Blascoe said. Anderson is believed to have planned Robinson's killing for months, creating a space covered in a plastic tarp, the Post reported. After committing the brutal killing, he drove Robinson's car around Milwaukee for some time before parking it in North Milwaukee and setting it on fire. The 15-member jury took 45 minutes to reach a guilty verdict. Anderson was ultimately found guilty of first-degree intentional homicide, mutilating a corpse, hiding a corpse and arson. No motive for the killing was revealed during the trial. The 34-year-old now faces a mandatory life sentence, but Judge Laura Crivello could sentence him to additional extended supervision.
