BEDFORD – A Bedford man was arrested Tuesday night after investigators say he admitted to killing a family dog and throwing its body into a neighboring yard.
According to an affidavit filed in Lawrence County, Deputy Austin McKinley responded shortly after 8:30 p.m. May 19 to investigate an animal cruelty complaint involving a missing dog later found dead.
Police said deputies first spoke with a neighbor who discovered the dog’s body in a backyard in the 100 block of Liberty Bell Street. According to the affidavit, the neighbor told officers he believed the injuries were not consistent with natural causes. After the dog was buried, a social media post helped identify the animal as belonging to a resident in the 100 block of Tresler Street.
Investigators then spoke with the dog’s owner, who told police she had previously found dried blood and a bloody hatchet in her garage, along with gloves covered in the dog’s hair. According to court documents, she confronted her son, 26-year-old Orion Skye Allen, about the missing dog.
Deputies later located Allen at a business property off Hoosier Avenue. According to the affidavit, Allen voluntarily spoke with officers after being advised of his rights.
Police said Allen eventually admitted to killing the dog and was taken into custody at the scene.
During a later interview at the sheriff’s department, Allen allegedly admitted to kicking and striking the dog multiple times and throwing the animal onto a concrete floor, according to the affidavit. Investigators said Allen told them the dog died there before he threw the body over a fence into a neighboring yard.
Allen was booked into the Lawrence County Jail on preliminary charges of domestic animal cruelty and animal cruelty involving torture or mutilation, both Level 6 felonies.
As in all criminal cases, charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
