Kentucky man charged in stabbing dog

Content warning: This story contains details of animal cruelty and may be disturbing to some readers.

GLASGOW, Ky. (WBKO) – A Kentucky man has been indicted by a grand jury after he was charged with fatally stabbing a dog in late September.

Paul L. Bruton, 49, of Glasgow, is accused of stabbing the family’s pit bull terrier to death with a Marine K-Bar knife. The incident occurred on September 24 when police responded to a report of a person threatening self-harm on Humble Avenue.

During the police investigation, Bruton revealed that he had argued with his wife four days earlier, causing her to leave. According to one roommate, while it wasn’t unusual for her to leave during an argument, this time she hadn’t returned.

The roommate reported that Bruton had been “freaking out” since the altercation. He also claimed Bruton attacked him and cut him on the neck, but did not want to press charges.

Bruton admitted to police that he killed the dog, claiming it had bitten the roommate and was a “vicious animal,” according to a police citation.

However, the roommate said he heard the dog yelping and whimpering in the backyard but couldn’t see what was happening because of the darkness. He also told police that the dog never bit him and was not aggressive toward anyone in the house.

Bruton reportedly wrapped the dog in an old carpet and placed him on a burning pile. The roommate later buried the animal in a shallow grave, from which police retrieved the remains and took them to the local animal shelter.

Bruton remains jailed in Barren County and is scheduled to appear in court for arraignment on October 22nd. He is charged with torture of a dog or cat and first-degree persistent felony offender.

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