Not sure if this has been posted
The man charged with killing and torturing Sterling the dog in Utica earlier this year has pleaded no contest to the charges.
Alexander Gerth was charged with killing and torturing an animal in the stabbing death of his 2-year-old pit bull mix, Sterling.
Sterling was found underneath a picnic table on Jan. 24, 2019, in Grant Park in below-freezing temperatures. There was a trail of blood from a nearby trash can to the location where Sterling died.
“Sterling was maliciously tortured and left to die in the elements,” Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith said in a release. “My office is fully committed to prosecuting every animal abuse case to the fullest extent under the law.”
Gerth will be sentenced on April 23
Man pleads no contest to killing, torturing Sterling the dog in Utica
The man charged with killing and torturing Sterling the dog in Utica earlier this year has pleaded no contest to the charges.
www.wxyz.com
Officials say the dog was adopted and returned twice through the Michigan Humane Society before being adopted a third time in December. The Humane Society in Westland says Gerth, 22, tried to adopt the three-year-old dog in December, but his application was denied.
A few days later, another person went to the same shelter and had an interest in Sterling. That person was approved to adopt the dog.
WXYZ in Detroit reports that the Humane Society says an investigation revealed that Sterling was adopted under false pretenses, as Gerth convinced a friend to adopt the dog for him.
Gerth's roommate tells WXYZ that he soon realized the dog was in danger. He reports seeing Gerth hit, grab and drag the dog.
He was reportedly afraid to say anything because he didn't want to be kicked out of the apartment. The roommate's girlfriend tried alerting Macomb County Animal Control, but says they needed proof in order to look into it.
She reportedly took pictures of what appeared to be cigarette burns on the dogs face, but did not turn them in before it was too late.
The roommate reports that upon returning home one night last week, Sterling was missing, his dog bowls and his chew toys were in the trash.
Sterling was found in the park that day.
Utica Man, 22, Charged With Torturing, Killing His Dog
Sterling was a three-year-old pit bull mix.
wwjnewsradio.radio.com