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MEDIA RELEASE: Thousands of Signatures Delivered Supporting Prosecution of Dog Killer

MEDIA RELEASE: Thousands of Signatures Delivered Supporting Prosecution of Dog Killer

INDIANOLA, Miss. (May 24, 2023) — On May 23, In Defense of Animals, the international animal protection organization operating Hope Animal Sanctuary and Justice for Animals Campaign in Mississippi, presented a package containing a letter and 15,579 signatures to Sunflower County Sheriff’s Department for Investigator Darrel Saxton supporting the prosecution of a dog killer.

Investigator Saxton will hand Fourth Circuit District Assistant District Attorney Takiyah Perkins the package supporting the prosecution of a woman charged with felony aggravated animal cruelty for stealing and slaying her neighbor’s dog.

In September 2022, Sarah James of Sunflower County, callously and without attempting to hide her crime, went into her neighbor Greg Purdy’s yard, where both his and his daughter’s dogs were kept. James removed one of the dogs, Cain, walked him into her yard, shot him once, and dragged him to the back of her property, where she shot him again to ensure his death.

Three neighbors witnessed James commit this crime. They came forward to see justice done.

In Defense of Animals’ Justice for Animals Senior Campaigner Doll Stanley was contacted for help and met withSaxton, who charged James under MSSS 97-41-16 (2)(b), aggravated animal cruelty to a dog, and sent the case to the grand jury. James was indicted. A court date is not yet set.

James is under investigation for intimidating witnesses and Cain’s family has reported that she has attempted to steal Cain’s companion dog. One neighbor said James asked him to tell the investigator that Cain tried to attack his grandson. Saxton hoped to ease witnesses’ concerns by telling them James would likely stop pressuring them when she realized they would be subpoenaed. 

“In Defense of Animals is seeking maximum sentencing for Sarah James for killing Cain, we also ask that she be charged with theft. While it is repugnant to us that animals can be the property of humans, the status can aid in gaining justice for animals taken from their families,” said Stanley.

 

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More Information: https://www.idausa.org/campaign/justice-for-animals/latest-news/justice-for-cain/

Images (free for use with credit to Greg Purdy): https://bit.ly/CainLetter

Contact: Doll Stanley, doll@idausa.org, (662) 809-4483

 

In Defense of Animals’ Justice for Animals Campaign has worked actively with law enforcement, court officials, and citizens of Mississippi for the prevention and prosecution of animal cruelty under existing statutes and ordinances and for the passage of laws that civilized societies should afford their most vulnerable creatures for 30 years.

In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization based in California with over 250,000 supporters and a 40-year history of fighting for animals, their advocates, and the environment through education and campaigns, as well as hands-on rescue facilities in India, South Korea, and rural Mississippi. www.idausa.org/justice4animals

 

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