Community Should Fear for Its Safety, Say Experts
For Immediate Release:
September 19, 2013
Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382
St. Louis, Mo. -- This morning, PETA sent an urgent plea to Jennifer M. Joyce of the St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office calling on her to vigorously prosecute St. Louis resident Adrienne Martin, who reportedly confessed to pouring an accelerant on a chained dog and setting him on fire on July 10. Martin's alleged involvement was discovered after she reportedly bragged about the incident on Facebook. The dog, nicknamed Brownie by rescuers, was badly burned over his face and body and later died. Martin was arrested and charged with two felony counts of cruelty to animals. She is scheduled to face these charges in court on Monday, September 23.
"Animal abusers are cowards," says PETA Director Martin Mersereau. "They take their issues out on the most defenseless beings available to them. St. Louis residents have reason to be concerned. According to leading mental-health professionals and law-enforcement agencies, perpetrators of violent acts against animals are often repeat offenders who pose a serious threat to all animals, including humans."
PETA is asking that the defendant, if convicted, be sentenced to a period of incarceration, prohibited from owning or harboring animals, and ordered to undergo thorough psychological evaluations followed by mandatory counseling at her own expense.
For more information, please visit PETA.org. To view PETA's anti-violence public service announcement featuring Inglourious Basterds star and Hostel director Eli Roth, please visit http://www.petatv.com/tvpopup/Prefs.asp?video=eli_roth_violence_link_psa_peta.
PETA's letter to Jennifer M. Joyce of the St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office follows.
September 19, 2013
The Honorable Jennifer M. Joyce
City of St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office
1114 Market St.
St. Louis, MO 63101
1 page via fax: 314-622-3369
Dear Ms. Joyce:
PETA is an international animal-protection organization with more than 3 million members and supporters globally. This letter concerns a case of cruelty to animals that your office is handling involving Adrienne Martin, 35, of north St. Louis, who faces felony charges stemming from a July 10 incident during which she is alleged to have fatally burned a neighbor's dog, Brownie. Reportedly, Brownie was chained and unable to flee when he was doused with an accelerant, set on fire, and left to die. We understand that the suspect's Facebook posts bragging of the attack led to her arrest. Martin is scheduled to appear in court on these charges on September 23.
As you likely know, mental-health professionals and top law-enforcement officials consider animal abuse to be a red flag. The American Psychiatric Association identifies cruelty to animals as one of the diagnostic criteria for conduct disorders, and the FBI uses reports of animal abuse in analyzing the threat potential of suspected and known criminals. The link between animal abuse and interpersonal violence is undeniable, and the safety of the community may depend upon a vigorous prosecution of this case.
On behalf of our thousands of members and supporters in Missouri, we ask that, if convicted, the defendant, in addition to serving a period of incarceration, be required to undergo a thorough psychological evaluation followed by mandatory counseling at her own expense. Because repeat crimes are the rule rather than the exception among animal abusers and given the egregious nature of this case, we ask that, if convicted, the defendant be prohibited from owning or having contact with animals (a common provision in such cases) for as long as possible.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Kristin Simon
Senior Cruelty Caseworker
Cruelty Investigations Department
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PETA Demands Jail Time, Psychiatric Intervention if Alleged Dog Killer Is Convicted
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