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Florida man accused of fatally beating dog, then putting it in hot oven, police say

LEE COUNTY, Fla. — A Florida man is accused of torturing a dog before killing it and then placing the animal in a hot oven, authorities said.

Vicasso Lara, 24, of Lehigh Acres, was charged with torturing an animal, inflicting pain and serious injury, and causing death, the Lee County Sheriff's Office said in a news release posted on its Facebook page.

“I’m speechless,” Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said in a news release. “This is possibly the most brutal and horrific example of animal abuse my team or I have ever seen.”

Deputies conducted a well-being check at a Lehigh Acres residence at 10 p.m. Friday, the Fort Myers News-Press reported.

Lee County Sheriff's Office Press Release: Dog Brutally Killed in Lehigh Acres On Friday, April 3, 2020, at approximately 10:00 pm, Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputies conducted a well-being check at a single-family residence in the 4500 block of 20th Street SW, Lehigh Acres. Initial information indicated that a subject, later identified as Vicasso Lara, (DOB 10-06-1995) was present at the 20th Street SW location, and that Lara had been threatening people at a residence located in the 100 block of East 11th Street, Lehigh Acres, where Lara had reportedly also killed his dog. “I’m speechless,” stated Sheriff Carmine Marceno. “This is possibly the most brutal and horrific example of animal abuse my team or I have ever seen. We will pursue the absolute maximum punishment for this horrific crime.” After speaking with Lara and a witness, deputies responded to the 11th Street SW residence, where deputies observed several pools of blood outside the residence and bloody footprints near the rear entrance to the home. LCSO detectives obtained and immediately executed a search warrant for the 11th Street SW residence, where detectives and crime scene technicians discovered the body of a dog in the kitchen oven, which had been turned to its highest setting. The investigation revealed Lara had stabbed the dog numerous times, beaten the animal with a bludgeon, and otherwise brutalized the dog prior to having placed it in the oven. Based on facts revealed during the investigation, Lara was arrested and charged with violation of Florida Statute 828.12(2) Torture/Inflict Pain/Serious Physical Injury/Death upon an animal. Deputies booked Lara to the Lee County Jail, where he is being held without bond, pending his initial court appearance.

Posted by Lee County Sheriff's Office on Saturday, April 4, 2020

After speaking with Lara and a witness, they responded to another residence, where they saw several pools of blood outside the home and bloody footprints near its rear entrance, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Detectives executed a search warrant and discovered the body of a dog in a kitchen oven, which had been turned up to its highest setting, WINK-TV reported.

Detectives said the dog had been stabbed and bludgeoned before it was placed in the oven, the television station reported.

Lara was arrested early Saturday and booked into the Lee County Jail, according to arrest records. He is due in court May 4.

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