March 17, 2008

PHILADELPHIA – Nearly five months after her disappearance, a dog named Edna is still missing. But one of the two people believed to be responsible in the apparent dog-napping case has been charged and convicted in a Philadelphia family court.

Fifteen year-old Victor Rodriguez won't be sentenced until March 31th, but he's facing harsh punishment for the four misdemeanor counts he was found guilty of committing last October.

Extortion, conspiracy, terroristic threats and harassment/stalking are all included in the teen's list of offenses. A criminal mischief charge was dropped for lack of evidence.

Rodriguez found himself in court this week for a phone call he made last November, during which he claimed to have possession of Bill Whiting's dog, Edna, and threatened to kill the animal unless he was given $600. Whiting agreed to pay, but a few hours later someone called again – an older sounding male – and said the dog had been killed.

Authorities aren't sure who the second caller is as it appears the second call was made from a disposable cell phone. Authorities are still investigating.

Initially, Rodriguez was charged with felony counts, but Judge Robert Rebstock lowered the offenses to misdemeanor charges.

Whiting, who has been traumatized by the ordeal, chose to attend the hearing; and upon seeing Rodriguez said he was surprised by how young the teen looked.

“He looks like a kid, but he doesn't look like a kid who has light in his eyes. There's just something that's vacant,” he said.

Rodriguez's defense attorney John D-Angelo said his client claims to know nothing about the event, and that it wasn't he that made the phone call.

Authorities disagree, tracing a call made to Whiting's cell phone back to Rodriguez's home, the night of the first call.

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