The Rogers County District Attorney has asked the Rogers County Sheriff’s Office to re-open the investigation into the death of a dog found on September 1st.
“Our office received new information as late as last night. Based upon the new information that has been brought to my attention I have requested the Rogers County Sheriff’s Office re-open their case and investigate the new leads that have been presented to the District Attorney’s Office,” said Steidley. “At this point I consider this case to still be an open investigation and because of that I cannot discuss any facts or evidence that has been presented to this office.”
Rogers County District Attorney Janice Steidley said she received a report from the Rogers County Sheriff’s Office on September 5, 2012 regarding the death of the dog Jetta, a black lab. The dog's body was found Saturday on a county road in the Winganon area. Her legs were bound with baling wire and it appeared she'd been dragged behind a vehicle.
Steidley says once the investigation is complete, the District Attorney’s Office will review the investigative report from the Sheriff’s office.
“Under the law the District Attorney’s Office cannot charge a person with a crime based upon mere suspicion, speculation or hunches. 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” said Steidley.
“We have heard the cries for justice loud and clear and are doing everything possible to answer them.”
FOX23 talked to the owner of Wild Heart Ranch who has been raising a reward to try to find the person responsible for Jetta's death. Annette King Tucker says she's the one who got in touch with the DA to say the timeline just doesn't add up. A man had claimed he shot Jetta last Wednedsay, because she appeared injured. He says he dragged her body when it started to decompose.
But, Tucker seriously doubts that's what happened.
"If he shot the dog on Wednesday and Jetta was with her puppies on Thursday and then seen with them on Friday morning, we're talking about two different dogs," Tucker told FOX23's Sharon Phillips. "A dog that was dead and decomposing for days would not have been in the same condition that this body was that was in the middle of the road. If they [Jetta's owners] didn't start supplementing the puppies until Saturday and Jetta was shot on Wednesday, these puppies would have been in poor condition."
Jetta was nursing nine puppies at the time of her death.
Annette believes the person that killed Jetta is still out there. She says a reward leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible still stands. $5000 of that $10,000 reward was donated by former Sooners coach Barry Switzer. Another $5000 will be matched by pledges.
The D.A.s office asked anyone who saw any kind of interaction between Jetta and a person or persons between August 29th and September 1st to call 918-341-3620.
