Police Seek Clues in Dog’s Washing Machine Death

September 3, 2008 | Pet Pulse Staff Reports

The case of a dog being killed in a washing machine during a July house party in Massachusetts has authorities stumped for clues. (Pet Pulse Photo Illustration by Mike Lloyd)

NANTUCKET, Mass. -- Police are urging the public to come forward with information about the death of Sammi, a Yorkshire Terrier, killed recently when placed in a washing machine.

After hosting a house party July 22 in Nantucket, Jane Siebold, 19, says she discovered Sammi’s dead body the following afternoon when she went to do a load of laundry. The house is owned by Jane’s father, Bob Siebold.

“It’s a pretty horrific crime to take such a small dog as well, defenseless animal, and do that to it,” Brian Adams, spokesperson for the Massachusetts SPCA told Pet Pulse.

“The Nantucket Police Department has been handling the interviews of party guests, where the dog was believed to have been killed,” Adams said.

“They feel like they’ve hit this, what we’re calling a wall of silence,” Adams added. “Where they feel that somebody knows something, but that nobody seems to be really coming forward with any information for the investigation.

“Right now we’re not receiving the cooperation of some of the guests.”

Nantucket police are leading the investigation, working with the MSPCA, which also has an officer assigned to the investigation.

“This case remains open regardless of the current lack of information being provided to us,” said Nantucket Police Chief William Pittman. “The severity of this crime is horrific, and Sammi deserves justice. There is no excuse for the killing of a defenseless family pet.”

Speaking to The Record of Bergen County, New Jersey, where he owns a car dealership, Bob Siebold said, “It’s a horrible situation and a depraved act, and we’ll leave it up to the authorities in Nantucket to investigate and pursue whatever leads they find.

“Other than that, like any parent, I’m concerned for my child and I’m saddened by the loss of a family pet.”

The case of Sammi is just one of several recently handled by the MSPCA involving particularly gruesome crimes against animals.

There are no leads, Adams says, in the case of Trent, a python that was nailed to a telephone pole. Authorities have also investigated a six-week old kitten that was cooked in a microwave, and kittens that were killed with a two-by-four and by having a car battery dropped on them.

“We’ve had several cases so far in the last few months that have been relatively disturbing, to put it mildly,” Adams said. “Hopefully someone will come forward.

“The Nantucket police aren’t going to drop this. We’re not going to drop this.”

To speak confidentially with a member of the investigative team please contact the Nantucket Police Department Hotline at 508-228-3626, or MSPCA Law Enforcement at 800-628-5808.

Tell us what you think about “Police Seek Clues in Dog’s Washing Machine Death” below. Share your favorite videos by clicking on the ZootooTV tab. Send us your story ideas by e-mailing us at news@zootoo.com or by calling us at 877-777-4204.

The Record of Bergen County contributed to this report.