- Florida, USA -
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office arrested 25-years-old JESSE ALLAN MYERS (pictured).
The case that resulted in MYERS’s arrest dates back to June. According to the arrest affidavit obtained by Voice For Us, on Saturday, June 24, 2023, the Lee County Sheriff's Office received a complaint about three dogs who had been beaten to death with a baseball bat at a property on 8190 Tolles Drive in North Fort Myers. The reporting parties identified MYERS as the individual who had beaten the dogs.
Lee County Sheriff Deputy Stahl responded to the location and attempted to conduct a well-being check on the animals at the residence. Upon arrival, along the back west side of the property line, she saw two sheds and “no discernible residence on the lot.” All the surrounding neighbors Deputy Stahl made contact with, confirmed to her that there were multiple dogs kept on the property and an unknown individual would go periodically to take care of them.
Through a window of the shed, Deputy Stahl could see a puppy inside a kennel. The puppy appeared to be without water or ventilation. Deputy Stahl forced entry into the shed given the condition the puppy was in, and inside, she found a container with dog food and a metal baseball bat. Lee County Domestic Animal Services were called to the scene to evaluate the puppy's condition.
Based on the preliminary findings, Lee County Sheriff Detective Hunt also responded to the scene and took digital photographs of the scene. During a cursory inspection of the property, officers found a “freshly dug plot of dirt” between the shed and the chain link fence. At that point, Detective Hunt requested a search warrant.
The baseball bat was confiscated as evidence and officers dug into the ground. At approximately ten to eight inches, they found three deceased dogs wrapped in a towel. The furbabies were turned over to Domestic Animal Services.
An investigation revealed the name of the property's owner. His daughter arrived while detectives were still on the scene. The woman, Naomi Lutz, explained that she previously resided there with her boyfriend, MYERS, until the property was damaged by Hurricane Irma.
Lutz told detectives the dogs were hers and that they were kept in kennels in the shed. She then identified the three deceased dogs as Jake, Nyla, and Odin. The surviving puppy was identified as Sage. Lutz went on to state that the day before, June 23, 2023, MYERS contacted her to let her know that three of the dogs were dead. According to the affidavit, LUTZ said that when she arrived, Jake appeared to have bruising and possibly broken ribs, and Nyla had a “spot” by her arm. Lutz did not note any other physical trauma or injuries. She said the dogs were seen last year by Pine Island Animal Clinic.
When Detective Hunt contacted the clinic, he learned that on March 15, 2022, Jake and Nyla had been seen for rabies vaccinations and that Lutz had been billed.
On June 26, 2023, Lee County Sheriff Deputy VanPelt forwarded to the ASPCA a Necropsy and Osteology request to establish the cause of death of Jake, Nyla, and Odin.
Three days later, MYERS met with Detective Hunt at the sheriff's office to be interviewed. According to the affidavit, MYERS explained that he had been taking care of the dogs on the property for four to five years and added that he would go every day after work to feed them and give them water. MYERS went on to state that when he went to the property on Thursday, June 22, 2023, the dogs were alive. He let them out, fed them, gave them water, and locked them back in the kennels before leaving. MYERS said he found Jake, Nyla, and Odin deceased when he returned the following day and contacted Lutz. MYERS said Lutz arrived with a friend and buried the dogs. According to MYERS, he was not able to help bury them.
Meanwhile, the Voiceless Victims were being examined by ASPCA Forensic Veterinarian Dr. Ashley Saver.
She reported that all three of them were found to be in early stages of decomposition and therefore limited necropsies were performed. Evaluation of the major muscle group revealed “no overt bruising”. Upon reviewing the radiology reports, no traumatic abnormalities were detected.
According to the affidavit, “Given the findings of a converted shed with four dogs runs, with limited ventilation (one window), the degree of decomposition of the bodies, the environmental circumstances, the information provided in sworn interviews, and the absence of any significant underlying findings on the necropsies and radiology reports, it was determined the most likely cause of death is consistent with heatstroke.”
Detective Hunt found probable cause to arrest and charge MYERS, primary caregiver for the dogs, with three felony counts of aggravated animal cruelty.
Arrest records show that MYERS was arrested on September 4, 2023, and released the following day. According to court records, MYERS’ arraignment is scheduled to take place on October 9, 2023, at 8:30 before Judge Robert J. Branning.
Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said in a statement: “I couldn’t be more proud of my deputies and detectives who acted without delay. The Animal Cruelty Task Force will investigate these crimes to the fullest extent and bring justice to all animals in Lee County.”
Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official news outlets. Link included.
Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.
MYERS’ mugshot shared from the Lee County Jail.
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