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ELIZABETH JAIMES caught on camera repeatedly hitting a dog with a rubber mallet

Updated: Mar 15, 2024

- Florida, USA -



~ Update: March 15, 2024

 

On March 12, 2024, ELIZABETH JAIMES (pictured), appeared at Hillsborough County Circuit Court before Judge Mark Kiser and pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated animal cruelty with a weapon and six counts of aggravated animal cruelty.

 

Fox 13 Tampa Bay reports that JAIMES decided to plead guilty and skip the jury trial. She now faces at least five years in prison. Evidence of the horrendous abuse that JAIMES inflicted upon a defenseless 8-year-old dog named Maya was caught on video.

 

In court, Prosecutor Karri Ann Becker recounted the heartbreaking facts and said: “The defendant repeatedly struck Maya with a mallet approximately 38 times and kicked and slammed Maya and struck her furiously 26 times.”

 

The incident happened back in August 2022, at JAIMES’ boyfriend’s mother’s house on Halifax Drive in Tampa.

 

JAIMES’ sentencing hearing has been scheduled for May 10, 2024.

 

As for the Voiceless Victim, she continues to visit the vet for ongoing treatment and is still living with her guardian.


 

~ Original story:


On May 1, 2023, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office received a call reporting an animal cruelty incident at a home in the 5000 block of Halifax Drive in Town ‘n’ Country.


Responding deputies were provided with footage from an in-home security camera which showed 24-years-old ELIZABETH JAIMES (pictured) holding a dog by the leash and repeatedly striking the furbaby with a rubber mallet on the head and torso.


According to an initial press release by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, the dog, a 9-year-old female Siberian Husky named Maya, was taken to the Veterinary Emergency Group where upon examination it was confirmed that she “had multiple blunt-force head and back injuries, including spine and rib fractures, and was blind in one eye.”


The sheriff’s office said that JAIMES was living in the home with her boyfriend and his mother, Maya’s guardian. Maya’s guardian told investigators that Maya suddenly started sustaining an inexplicable spate of injuries in August 2022, when JAIMES moved in. At the veterinarian’s request, Maya’s guardian installed a hidden camera in her home to see what was going on when she was not home. When Maya’s guardian reviewed the video, she realized that Maya’s injuries had been inflicted by JAIMES. In the gut-wrenching video released by the sheriff’s office, Maya can be heard yelping and crying in pain as JAIMES heartlessly and soullessly beats her time after time.

JAIMES “admitted to hitting the dog because she had growled at her” stated the release.


JAIMES was arrested on May 1, 2023, for aggravated cruelty to animals with a weapon, second degree felony. Arrest records maintained by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office show that JAIMES was released from the county jail the day after her arrest after posting a $7,500 bond.

Arrest records also show that JAIMES is a student and works at Starbucks.


The sheriff’s office said that following JAIMES’ arrest, Maya has been reunited with her guardian and is recovering at home.


Maya’s guardian has filed for an injunction on JAIMES.


In a subsequent press release, Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister announced a petition for enjoinment to prevent JAIMES “from adopting or living with a pet in Hillsborough County”. The release goes on to state: “Sheriff Chronister and State Attorney Susan Lopez are pushing for this petition to be expanded statewide.”


Meanwhile, investigators continue to dig deeper into this case as they believe that “the abuse began as far back as October 2022. Since then, Maya has experienced numerous episodes of abuse, which have led to permanent damage.”


Sheriff Chronister said: “Nothing would justify this evil and callous abuse. Maya is a sweet and loving animal who did not deserve the torture she endured. This is why our investigation is so important. We need to dive deeper and determine how far the abuse goes back. We are dedicated to investigating this case and ensuring that Jaimes will be held accountable for her heinous acts.”


Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official news outlets. Links included.

Please note that details may be removed or new information added should such sources report an update.

In the case of charges being dropped, dismissed, or the case being purged, this article will be rectified accordingly, if official documentation is provided to Voice For Us.



JAIMES’ mugshot via Hillsborough County Jail.


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JACOB MELVIN MCCOWAN and JESSICA L. SMURTWAITE charged in abandoned and neglected Huskies case

- Idaho, USA -


Following the “appearance of numerous ‘husky’ type dogs,” the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation. In an initial news release, Bonner County Sheriff Daryl Wheeler said that “Many dogs have been found in many areas around Bonner County and neighboring counties that appear to have been abandoned and/or appear to be in visibly poor health.”


Sheriff Wheeler explained that all the dogs who were reported to the sheriff’s office, have been documented and placed at various shelters. Some of the furbabies are being cared for by private citizens.


In an update on the case, Sheriff Wheeler announced that the investigation led to charges being filed against 45-years-old JACOB MELVIN MCCOWAN, and 31-years-old JESSICA L. SMURTWAITE, of Utah. The pair were charged with thirty-one (31) counts of animal cruelty/abandonment of animals.


According to the release, so far, deputies have identified thirty-one dogs associated with this case but there still may be additional dogs who have not yet been captured.

“The identified dogs have received medical screenings & appear malnourished or in poor health,” stated the release.


Sheriff Wheeler expressed his gratitude to all the organizations and private citizens who stepped in to assist, including, the Kootenai Humane Society, the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Division, the Pend Oreille County Sheriff’s Office, the Northwoods Veterinary Clinic, and the Better Together Animal Alliance whose medical staff have provided medical exams and treatment “FREE of charge.”


Sheriff Wheeler advised that “For investigative and potential prosecutorial reasons, it is imperative that we be made aware of any other dogs of this nature that have been located and may be being cared for by citizens. We request that anyone who has one of these dogs in their possession and has not reported it, or who may have witnessed a person or vehicle ‘dumping’ these dogs, to contact Bonner County Dispatch at (208) 265-5525.

We are not seizing the dogs however we do need to photograph the dogs and document contact information for whoever is caring for the dog.”


KREM reports that out of the ten dogs placed in the care of Better Together Animal Alliance, four are well enough to finish healing in foster homes. On Wednesday, January 25, 2023, a foster family picked up from the shelter Sugar, a female Husky who is very special to the Better Together Animal Alliance because she was the first of the abused VOICELESS VICTIMS to arrive. Andrea Nagel told KREM that Sugar would have died if she hadn’t been rescued.

Ms. Nagel explained that the dogs will remain in their foster homes for two weeks before being adopted.


Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official news outlets. Links included.

Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.






SEBASTIAN A. TRUJILLO accused of murdering one of his Husky dogs

- Illinois, USA -


The Joliet Police Department arrested 22-years-old SEBASTIAN A. TRUJILLO (pictured), in connection with the death of his dog, a female Husky named Jillo.


The incident happened on Monday, October 24, 2022, at TRUJILLO’s apartment in the 100 block of Clement Street.

Police were called in relation to a disturbance involving a man yelling and a dog in extreme distress.


Responding officers discovered Jillo in the apartment bathroom, lifeless. According to a press release obtained by Voice For Us, TRUJILLO “had used a thin leash with a noose-like collar to drag the dog across the floor of the apartment to place her in a cage at which time the dog’s body fell limp and she passed away.”


At the apartment officers located another Husky who was alive and was placed in the care of Joliet Township Animal Control.


The filthy murderer was taken to the Will County Jail.

According to court records, TRUJILLO was charged with one count of aggravated cruelty to animals and two counts of cruelty to animals. A bail hearing took place the following day at the Will County Courthouse and TRUJILLO was released!

Will County Judge Fred Harvey granted the Will County State's Attorney's Office request for a $25,000 bail against the murderer.

Judge Harvey ordered TRUJILLO to surrender all of his guns and prohibited him from having any animals as part of the bail conditions.


TRUJILLO’s private defense attorney, Neil Patel, told Joliet Patch's editor about his client: “I just know he's really distraught. He was crying when he was in court when the State (prosecutors) was going through the factual allegations.”


Online court records show that the murderer is scheduled to be back in court on December 9, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. for his preliminary hearing.


Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official news outlets. Links included.

Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.




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