NELSON CHUKWUNOYELUM EGWU arrested after one dog found deceased and another severely underweight and chained in his garage
- Texas, USA -
~ Update: October 14, 2026
Cpl. Jose Mendez with the Austin Police Department kindly shared a photo of Jane and a photo of Smart (below in the gallery.)
He told me that according to the information he received from the Animal Cruelty Unit, Jane is 3 years old and Smart is 2 years and 7 months old.
He also told me that both Jane and Smart have been adopted by the Austin Animal Shelter.
~ Original story:
The Austin Police Department announced the arrest of 64-year-old NELSON CHUKWUNOYELUM EGWU (pictured).
According to an affidavit obtained by Voice For Us, on August 31, 2026, officers were dispatched to a residence in the 13600 block of Coomer Path to investigate a report of a dog who had allegedly been abandoned and “had been roaming the neighborhood for approximately one week.”
The caller, whom I will refer to as SM, identified EGWU as the dog's guardian and told police that he had said the dog was dying and that this was why he had let the dog go.
The affidavit states that SM frequently heard dogs barking inside EGWU's garage but never saw them let outside. She also told officers that approximately one week earlier, EGWU had “left one of the dogs outside and would not allow it back inside.”
When officers arrived at the residence, they located a light-colored, white-and-tan American Pitbull Terrier-type dog named Smart.
Officers contacted EGWU and questioned him about Smart. According to the affidavit, EGWU claimed that Smart had stopped eating, had broken out of his cage in the garage, and would not return inside.
While speaking with EGWU, officers heard additional dogs barking inside the garage. EGWU confirmed that other dogs were kept there and told officers they were properly cared for and provided with food and water, according to the affidavit.
Officers asked EGWU for permission to check on the dogs' welfare, and he allowed them inside. When the garage door was opened, officers were immediately met with “extreme heat and a strong odor of urine and feces,” the affidavit states.
Officers documented little to no air circulation inside the garage. The floor was covered with urine and feces, including large accumulations that appeared to have been there for an extended period. Officers also observed several large metal cages throughout the garage.
Inside, officers found a gray American Pitbull Terrier-type dog named Jane. According to the affidavit, Jane was restrained by an approximately three-foot metal chain attached to a large barrel. She appeared underweight, with her ribs and hip bones visibly protruding. The short chain severely restricted her movement, and she was standing in accumulated feces. Officers observed no food accessible to Jane, and a water bowl was positioned beyond her reach.
EGWU told officers that the dogs were normally kept inside the garage and that Jane was routinely chained to a barrel because the dogs would fight when kept together. When asked about Jane's thin appearance, he said she might not like the food and explained that he had recently switched to a cheaper brand for financial reasons.
As the inspection progressed, one of the officers sadly discovered a deceased dog lying inside a locked metal cage. The affidavit identified the dog as Jimmy, an adult male American Pitbull Terrier-type.
According to the affidavit, Jimmy was “extremely thin,” and his eyes appeared recessed into his skull. An empty bowl was inside the cage, while a large bowl of water was outside the cage and inaccessible to him.
When confronted about Jimmy, EGWU “appeared surprised and responded, ‘Oh, he's dead?’,” the affidavit states.
EGWU claimed he had fed the dogs the previous night and was “100%” certain Jimmy had been alive at that time.
EGWU agreed to surrender all three dogs, and Jane, Jimmy, and Smart were taken to the Austin Animal Center.
On September 2, 2026, Jimmy's remains were transported from the animal center to Texas Veterinary Pathology for a necropsy performed by Dr. Estep, D.V.M. The pathology report was received on September 25, 2026.
The necropsy findings identified heat exposure as the cause of Jimmy's death, with dehydration, severe weight loss, and chronic kidney disease listed as potentially contributing factors.
Investigators subsequently obtained two arrest warrants for EGWU. He was arrested on September 30, 2026, and booked into the Travis County Jail.
EGWU faces a third-degree felony charge of cruelty to non-livestock animals in connection with Jimmy's death and a Class A misdemeanor charge related to Jane.
According to court records, EGWU is scheduled to appear in court on November 16, 2026, at 9:15 a.m.
Police said Jane and Smart “are expected to make a full recovery and will be put up for adoption.”
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Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is based on the affidavit obtained by Voice For Us.
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.
Mugshot shared from the Austin Police Department.
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