Necropsy to be performed on Claremore dog thought dragged to death
BY RHETT MORGAN World Staff Writer
Saturday, September 22, 2012
9/22/12 at 5:50 AM
CLAREMORE - The carcass of a Rogers County dog that originally was thought to have been dragged to death has been exhumed and sent to the Oklahoma State University pathology department for a necropsy, a prosecutor said Friday.
Janice Steidley, the district attorney for Rogers, Mayes and Craig counties, said authorities are continuing to investigate leads in the death of a 2-year-old Labrador retriever.
The retriever's carcass was found about three weeks ago on the side of a road in Winganon, which is just northwest of Chelsea.
Rogers County workers dug up the carcass on Wednesday, County Commissioner Dan DeLozier said.
A necropsy is conducted to determine the cause of death of an animal.
Initially, Sheriff Scott Walton said someone had tied the dog's legs with wire and dragged it with a vehicle a little more than a mile before stopping. A trail of "flesh and fur" was left behind on the pavement, he said.
Several days later, however, Walton said a man had come forward and told authorities that he had shot an injured dog that was in distress.
However, the sheriff went on to say that there was no indication that the dog had been dragged to death.
The District Attorney's Office later reopened the case.
"Under the law the District Attorney's Office cannot charge a person with a crime based upon mere suspicion, speculation or hunches," Steidley said two weeks ago in a statement.
"We have to make a decision based upon the evidence presented to us by the law enforcement agency. This is how every case is handled."
Deputy Jerry Smittle has said Steidley has advised the Sheriff's Office not to comment on the case.
Once the investigation is complete, prosecutors will review the investigative report and determine whether anyone should be charged.
Original Print Headline: Dog first believed dragged to death to have necropsy
Rhett Morgan 918-581-8395
rhett.morgan@tulsaworld.com
