Dog Abuse Case Begins to Unfold

Investigators are trying to learn what actually happened the night eleven dogs were taken from the Josephine County Animal Shelter. Four of the dogs were killed.

Three people have been arrested and all of the remaining once-missing dogs have been returned, but the case is only beginning to unfold.

Two teenagers are in the Josephine County Juvenile Justice Center Friday night. A third, the older brother of one of those teens is booked at the county jail.

The crimes they're accused of outraged the community and now there are concerns about the safety of the suspects.

Authorities are being tight-lipped about how deeply they may have been involved.

"All I can say is this investigation is on going," says Sheriff Gil Gilbertson. "I don't want to put anything out there that might damage the case."

The investigation into the animal shelter break-in and subsequent killings of four dogs is now in the hands of District Attorney Stephen Campbell, who's charging the suspects with seven counts of felony second-degree burglary, one count of first-degree felony theft and a count of second-degree criminal mischief.

Noticeably absent from the charges is the more serious crime of felony aggravated-animal abuse they were originally booked on.

"In reviewing the evidence we did not believe we have enough evidence at this time to file aggravated animal abuse charges. That being said this is an on-going investigation and we continue to try and solve that aspect of this crime," says Campbell.

Another twist: the Sheriff's Office is investigating a man and woman living at a transient camp behind a grocery store in Merlin, just down the road from the shelter and near Pleasant Valley Road where the dogs were found brutally killed.

Animal protection and regulation supervisor Brad Tally says two of the dogs that made it safely back to the shelter were recovered in that area. But the Sheriff's Office says it's not ready to jump to any conclusions.

News10 talked with the father of two of the suspects on the phone who says his children are being "crucified" by the media and small community of Merlin. He says he doesn't want to come across as a father in denial, but that he needs to protect his children who are innocent unless proven guilty.

This case has drawn a lot of community support, both in finding the missing dogs and the suspects. It's also raised concerns about the safety of the suspects and their families.

Campbell says the juvenile court considered releasing the suspect who turned herself in, back to her parent's custody. But, in part due to safety concerns, her father says she'll remain in the detention center.