Authorities say a 19-year-old Florida man was arrested on suspicion of killing his 16-year-old girlfriend’s pet puppy and leaving its mutilated body on her front doorstep.
According to the New York Post, Lawrence Chaz Graham allegedly told the girl that he expected her to be home by 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, threatening that he would kill Jordan, the puppy he bought her last year, if she missed the deadline.
When she did not arrive by the designated time, authorities believe Graham wrapped a cord around the dog’s neck and left the dead Shih Tzu mix — along with some flowers — in front of his girlfriend’s door.
“Coulda Made It RIP Jordan,” a note accompanying the gruesome display reportedly read.
Though the girl found her pet when she finally arrived home, Broward County Sheriff’s Office Detective Sira Arroyo said the situation could have been worse.
“Thank God she didn’t come home, because who knows what he would have done to her,” the detective said, adding that the girl is “traumatized” by the loss of “a dog that she had for a whole year and cared for and loved.”
After his arrest, Graham allegedly admitted that he kicked the animal upon arriving at the residence to find his girlfriend wasn’t there. Investigators say he further acknowledged bashing the dog onto the ground and throwing the still-breathing pet into a garbage bag.
When the dog managed to claw out of the bag, Graham allegedly choked it to death before leaving it on the doorstep.
Police reports further determined that the girl received text messages from Graham’s phone in which he appears to confess to the crime.
“If u really loved him u would made it in time 2 save him … hope it was worth it,” he allegedly wrote.
Graham is expected to face six felony counts of animal cruelty, according to court records. As of the latest updates available, he remained behind bars at the Broward Main Jail with bond set at $15,000.
His mother, Sherri, appeared in court to tell the judge that he had not behaved like this in the past.
“I feel like he probably got upset withher, but that still doesn’t give him the right to touch the dog,” she said in comments to WPLG.
[Featured image: Lawrence Chaz Graham, Broward County Sheriff’s Office]
