Suspect arrested in rape, murder of Thurston Co. dog

THURSTON COUNTY, Wash. — A man suspected of raping and murdering a Thurston County dog has been arrested, the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office says.

According to authorities, he is a convicted felon whose criminal history includes domestic violence, burglary and controlled substance charges.

The pit bull was found hanging from a tree on Department of Natural Resources’ property last month.

Officials were offering a $5,000 reward for any information leading up to a conviction, calling the act an “atrocious crime”.

According to The Humane Society the reward now exceeds $17,000. The animal protection organization says the extra $12,000 is thanks to a surplus of support from donors across the U.S.

>> Click this link to read more about this case.

A mountain biker alerted authorities after finding the dog hanging from a tree on Department of Natural Resources’ property on March 21.

Authorities say the dog died from asphyxiation, her feet “barely touching the ground.”

Pasado's Safe Haven, an animal advocacy group, assisted investigators in this case. They say the pit bull's name is Diamond.

According to Pasado’s, a tip from the public led to the suspect’s arrest.

“This is a truly horrific situation in all aspects,” Dan Paul, director of the Humane Society in Washington said in a statement. “To think about the suffering this dog experienced in her final moments…is sickening.”

Cox Media Group