Man accused of beating dog to death taken into custody during court appearance
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — What was meant to be a Christmas gift turned into a holiday horror after a puppy was beaten to death.
The man accused of the crime was in court today, but did not get to go home.
The gallery celebrated an increased bond for Christopher Simpson, who is accused of beating Tammy Crooms’s five-month-old puppy to death.
“I was so happy, and someone who I treated just as my son goes and does this horrific thing,” Crooms said. “I am sorry, but my puppy did not deserve this crime.”
Simpson is charged with felony animal cruelty for allegedly beating the puppy named Axel. His girlfriend’s parents adopted Axel over the holidays.
Crooms said they left Simpson alone with their new pup, and when they came home Axel was missing. After searching they found him behind a shed in the backyard dead.
According to the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office it was a gruesome death.
“What the doctor said, he was beat terribly,” NHSO spokesman Lt. Jerry Brewer said. “Worse than he had seen any other dog. they said the liver looked like hamburger because it was beat so bad.”
The DA’s office requested Simpson’s bond be set at $50,000. The judge doubled that, setting his bond at $100,000.
“Harsher punishment should have to be served for people who commit these crimes to animals,” Crooms said.
But Crooms’s daughter, who is Simpson’s girlfriend, had a different reaction. As Simpson was taken into custody she stormed out of the courtroom. We tried to talk to her, but she also left our interview as she claims the dog bit Simpson.
Simpson did apologize before the judge for what happened.
The family feared though the couple would flee and asked for the higher bond.
“If he can do this damage to a pet, he can do this damage to a human being, and my granddaughter is the one that I am worried about, because I do not know if she is safe or not,” Crooms said.
Simpson is set to be back in court Feb. 8.
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