Latest news with #JamesWilliamson
Daily Mail
28-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
'Inhumane' man shoved pet Chihuahua in oven and blocked the door until it burned alive
A man from Atmore, Alabama, has been accused of cooking his pet Chihuahua alive because it would not stop barking. James Williamson, 44, is facing a felony charge of aggravated animal cruelty after he allegedly locked the dog inside a heated oven. The incident occurred last Monday when Williamson got into an argument with a family member and threatened to carrying out the act. Sickening: James Williamson, 44, is facing a felony charge of aggravated animal cruelty after allegedly cooking his pet Chihuahua alive Williamson is alleged to have taken dog, stuffed it inside a hot oven and turned the appliance on before wedging a chair against the door to prevent the puppy from escaping. Neighbors reported hearing yelping and cries coming from inside Williamson's home, but by the time police arrived the sound had stopped. According to Sergeant Darrell McMann of the Atmore Police Department, an officer who owns a Chihuahua himself found the puppy's charred, lifeless body outside on the driveway, suffering from severe burns across its body. McMann described the case as 'horrible and inhumane' and said it tested his composure in a way few cases have. He told WALA: 'When I got there, I was just at a loss for words, you know. I really just stood there and looked at the dog for a little bit and had to get myself together. 'This was someone's pet. This was a life - a small, trusting, defenseless life - and it was tortured.' Williamson was swiftly arrested and charged with a class C felony, the standard charge for aggravated animal cruelty in Alabama. He was booked into custody with a $15,000 bond. If convicted, he will be prohibited from owning animals in the future. But Sergeant McMann believes the punishment should be far more severe. He said: 'I think in cases like this, they [the law] should be strengthened. Because I don't think being a class C felony fits what he did.' Currently, Alabama law treats aggravated animal cruelty as a lower-tier felony. That means, depending on prior history and the court's judgment, Williamson could avoid significant prison time altogether. Those on social media were outraged by what they had heard. 'Well if he didn't like barking, don't get a dog!' one person said. Another wrote: 'At what point are we going to change our laws here in Alabama so people like this are actually punished? Animal abuse happens far too often, and it's unacceptable. 'We rank 49th out of 50 states for the worst animal cruelty laws. We need to do better, Alabama. It's heartbreaking that we continue to do nothing to improve, while people go on committing these horrible acts.'
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Time of India
'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.
New York Post
27-05-2025
- New York Post
Sick dog owner allegedly cooked Chihuahua in his oven because it wouldn't stop barking
An Alabama dog owner allegedly cooked his pet Chihuahua in his oven because it wouldn't stop barking — with the distressed cop who arrived to find it a Chihuahua owner himself. James Williamson, 44, of Atmore, close to the Florida border, got into an argument with a relative and threatened to put the helpless puppy in the oven if it didn't stop barking, officials told FOX 10. He then allegedly snatched up the dog, threw it in his hot oven — then wedged a chair against the door to stop it escaping, the report said. Advertisement 3 James Williamson, 44, is accused of killing his Chihuahua in an oven after it wouldn't stop barking. Escambia County Sheriff's Office Neighbors called police because of the harrowing yelping from the dying dog, according to Sergeant Darrell McMann — who arrived to find the puppy's charred remains laid out on the driveway. 'I have a Chihuahua myself,' the cops said. Advertisement '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,' he said. 3 Arresting officer Sergeant Darrell McMann discovered the charred remains on the driveway. WALA Williamson is charged with aggravated animal cruelty, a Class C felony, and is being held on a $15,000 bond. If let out, he won't be allowed to have animals anymore. Currently, aggravated animal cruelty is treated as a lower-tier felony in Alabama. Advertisement 3 Williamson allegedly placed a chair against the oven door so the chihuahua couldn't escape. Elles Rijsdijk – That means Williamson could avoid any significant prison sentence, depending on prior history and the judgment of the court. 'I think in cases like this, they should be strengthened,' Sergeant McMann said. 'Because I don't think being a class C felony fits what he did. That pretty much describes what he did: horrible and inhumane,' he said.
Daily Mail
27-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Man COOKS his pet chihuahua in an oven before giving sickening explanation
A quiet Alabama town has been shaken to its core after authorities say a man committed one of the most horrific acts of animal cruelty they've ever encountered and deliberately cooked his own pet chihuahua alive inside a heated oven. James Williamson, 44, of Atmore, close to the Florida border, said he carried out the despicable act all because the tiny dog wouldn't stop barking. He is now facing a felony charge of aggravated animal cruelty after police say he followed through on a threat to kill his dog. The gruesome incident occurred last Monday when Williamson got into an argument with a family member. It was during this heated exchange he allegedly threatened to shove the puppy into the oven if it didn't stop barking. Williamson is alleged to have taken the small dog, stuffed it inside a hot oven and turned the appliance on before wedging a chair against the oven door to prevent the puppy from escaping. Neighbors soon reported hearing yelping and cries coming from inside Williamson's home, but by the time police arrived the sound had stopped. According to Sergeant Darrell McMann of the Atmore Police Department, a veteran officer who owns a chihuahua himself, found the puppy's charred, lifeless body outside on the driveway, suffering from severe burns across its tiny body. Sergeant Darrell McMann of the Atmore Police Department who owns a chihuahua himself described the case as 'horrible and inhumane' saying it tested his composure McMann described the case as 'horrible and inhumane' and said it tested his composure in a way few cases have. 'When I got there, I was just at a loss for words, you know. I really just stood there and looked at the dog for a little bit and had to get myself together,' he told WALA. 'This was someone's pet. This was a life - a small, trusting, defenseless life - and it was tortured.' Williamson was swiftly arrested and charged with a class C felony, the standard charge for aggravated animal cruelty in Alabama. He was booked into custody with a $15,000 bond. If convicted, he will be prohibited from owning animals in the future. But Sergeant McMann believes the punishment should be far more severe. 'I think in cases like this, they [the law] should be strengthened,' McMann said. 'Because I don't think being a class C felony fits what he did.' Currently, Alabama law treats aggravated animal cruelty as a lower-tier felony. The burned body of the small, lifeless dog was found on Dogwood Drive in Atmore last Monday That means, depending on prior history and the court's judgment, Williamson could avoid significant prison time altogether. Those on social media were outraged by what they had heard. 'I think that might be a fitting punishment for him. And maybe all animal abusers in Alabama,' implored one user. 'Well if he didn't like barking, don't get a dog!' stated another. 'At what point are we going to change our laws here in Alabama so people like this are actually punished? Animal abuse happens far too often, and it's unacceptable. We rank 49th out of 50 states for the worst animal cruelty laws. We need to do better, Alabama. It's heartbreaking that we continue to do nothing to improve, while people go on committing these horrible acts,' wrote a third.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Yahoo
Man Busted For Animal Cruelty So Extreme That Cop Said He Had To Gather Himself
An Alabama man allegedly cooked a chihuahua puppy to death in the oven for barking too much, prompting a police officer on the scene to recoil in shock, according to reports. Sergeant Darrell McMann of the Atmore Police Department said neighbors heard yelps before officers arrived. McMann spotted the dog's badly burned body on the driveway. 'When I got there, I was just at a loss for words, you know,' McMann told WALA. 'I just stood there and looked at the dog for a little bit and I had to get myself together.' James Williamson, 44, was charged with aggravated animal cruelty, WALA noted. McMann, who also owns a chihuahua, called the case 'horrible and inhumane.' While the suspect was arguing with a family member, witnesses said Williamson followed through on an earlier threat to place the dog in the oven and turn up the heat because he was annoyed by its barking, the Atmore News reported. He had barricaded the dog inside the appliance with a chair, WSFA reported. One witness heard the dog yelping a short time later, according to the Atmore News, which wrote from the police report. Authorities found evidence of the animal's death in the kitchen, according to the report cited by the local outlet. Man Accused Of Tying Dog To Fence Amid Hurricane Faces Animal Cruelty Charge Kansas City Chiefs Player Turns Himself In To Police On Animal Cruelty Charges Extreme Animal Cruelty Cases Can Now Be Prosecuted As Federal Crimes
