CHANCE CORDELLE JONES arrested for locking a severely malnourished puppy in a garage without food, water or light, resulting in the puppy’s death

- Florida, USA -

The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of 18-year-old CHANCE CORDELLE JONES (pictured).

On July 1, 2026, deputies responded to an apartment on Sunset Boulevard after one of JONES’ cousins discovered a “severely malnourished dog inside a locked detached garage.”

According to the affidavit, the cousin who discovered the dog, unlocked the garage door using the access code and found the dog “lying in a puddle of urine.”

When deputies arrived, JONES and his cousin were both present.

Palm Coast Animal Control then responded to the scene and removed the furvictim, a 10-week-old male Bluetick Coonhound/Australian Shepherd mix whom they named Sunset. Animal Control took Sunset to East Coast Animal Hospital for treatment.

You can see pictures of the furvictim below, and yet, unbelievably, “No further investigative steps were taken at that time”, stated the affidavit.

Sunset was later transferred for a higher level of care, but sadly, despite all efforts to save his precious life, he died on July 4, 2026.

A veterinarian determined that multiple tests and lab results indicated no pre-existing medical conditions that would account for Sunset’s level of malnourishment. The same veterinarian advised that Sunset died from organ failure due to starvation and said that he has since been transferred to a crematory in Jacksonville.

Meanwhile, Caroline Johnson, with the nonprofit organization SMART - Saving Missing Animals Response Team, informed the sheriff’s office that she received an anonymous tip providing the identity of Sunset’s original guardians. Caroline made contact with the guardians at their work place in Bunnell.

Caroline learned that the guardians had a dog who had a litter of puppies and one of those puppies was given to JONES on April 5, 2026.

Investigators questioned JONES about Sunset and he told them that he was frequently away from home for extended periods and hid Sunset in the garage because he didn't want anyone to see Sunset’s condition. JONES told deputies he never took the puppy to a veterinarian.

JONES was arrested on July 6, 2026, and booked into the Flagler County Jail. He was charged with one felony count of aggravated animal cruelty and one misdemeanor count of unlawful confinement of an animal.

Court records show that JONES is scheduled to be arraigned in Flagler County Circuit Court on August 4, 2026, at 8:15 a.m. before judge Dawn Nichols.

While the sheriff’s office and the affidavit referred to Sunset as being female, SMART referred to Sunset as being male.

Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said in a written statement: “This is one of the most heartless things I've seen in my career. That puppy couldn't tell anyone she needed help, and Chance Jones chose to hide her instead of giving her the basic care that would have kept her alive. If you can't take care of an animal, don't take one in, because we will be the voice for a helpless animal and hold you accountable when you neglect an animal or even worse, starve an animal to death.”

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Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from the press release by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office. Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.

In the case of charges being dropped, dismissed, or the case being purged, this article will be rectified accordingly, if official documentation is provided to Voice For Us.

JONES’ mugshot shared from the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.

Some of Sunset’s photos shares from SMART - Saving Missing Animals Response Team

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