A Florida man was arrested after he reportedly hanged the service dog of a disabled Navy veteran before punching the man’s children when they wouldn’t help dispose of the animal, reports say.
Robert Leroy Edwards, 38, was charged with torture inflicting pain/serious physical injury resulting in death after police say he killed Richard Hunt’s black lab by wrapping an electrical cord around the dog’s neck because it was barking, WFLA reported.
Hunt told the outlet that his emotional support dog “Midnight” was staying with his son in Manatee County on Wednesday when he got a disturbing call.
Edwards then woke Hunt’s other son, who is 16. The teen was sleeping in the home when Edwards asked him to help hide Midnight’s body. When the teen refused, Edwards allegedly punched him in the face, the New York Post reported.