A man brutally abused a pit bull, stabbed it dozens of times, and stuffed it into a suitcase, causing the dog to die two days later. His 10-year prison sentence left many people feeling that justice had finally been served
a Florida man was sentenced to 10 years in prison for beating a pit bull, stabbing it 50 times, and stuffing it into a suitcase, causing it to die two days later.
Brendan Evans, 35, of Hollywood, Florida, pleaded guilty to mistreating his dog Ollie four years ago, his lawyer, Michael Gottlieb, said on November 9.
Ollie at the veterinary clinic in Hollywood, Florida, after the abuse in October 2017. Photo: AP .
According to the case file, in 2017, Evans beat Ollie, stabbed it 50 times, and stuffed it into a suitcase while it was dying. A couple out for a nighttime walk heard its cries coming from the blue suitcase not far from Evans’ apartment and called the police.
Ollie was taken to a nearby veterinary clinic. The doctors thought he would recover, but Ollie died two days later.
Initially, hundreds of dog lovers offered to adopt Ollie. After the dog died from its injuries, they raised nearly $60,000 to find the person who abused the animal.
Police identified Evans through his DNA found in the suitcase. Evans initially denied involvement, but investigators found cat paws and decapitated rats in his freezer, and a knife with a broken handle in a dog food bowl. Bloodstains were also found in the bathroom, while dried blood and animal fur were discovered in the oven.
The abuse of Ollie has caused outrage worldwide, especially among dog lovers. Evans has been incarcerated since his arrest four years ago.
Gottlieb said he was initially charged with 17 counts of animal cruelty, but prosecutors dropped 15 charges to allow Evans to plead guilty. If convicted on all 17 charges, he could face up to 85 years in prison.
