- Mississippi, USA -
Through a Facebook post, the Calhoun City Police Department is asking the community to be “patient” while along with the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office, it is “working diligently” on solving an animal cruelty case. No, wait, let me call it as it is, MURDER!
Part of the Department’s post reads: “CCPD is well aware of the incidents involving someone's pet.” Well, while to the Calhoun City Police Department Sipsey was just someone’s pet, for Joey and Natalie Knight, Sipsey was a member of their family!
On Saturday, January 21, 2023, after hearing a gunshot and alerting deputies, Mr. Knight found Sipsey, his 9-year-old dog in the backyard of his neighbor, 28-years-old RAPHAEL MCCLAIN (pictured), a member of the Mississippi Highway Patrol.
Mr. Knight told WCBI that he asked his neighbor: “I said McClain did you shoot my dog?” According to Mr. Knight, MCCLAIN answered: “Yeah, I shot your dog.”
Mr. Knight further told WCBI that a few days before Sipsey was killed, MCCLAIN had shot their other dog, Zelda. Zelda is alive but according to a GoFundMe organized by Mr. Knight, “She has been at the vet for a chest wound and having her front leg amputated.”
Mr. Knight recounted the moments he found Sipsey and said: “I was not expecting to see what I saw and what I can describe it as is complete and utter horror that he had allegedly thrown our dog on top of his burn pile with burnt debris and aerosol cans and trash bags and everything on it as if he was about to burn him.”
Mr. Knight said he is aware that Sipsey had bitten MCCLAIN three years ago, but he cannot comprehend why MCLAIN would do such a thing now.
Sipsey’s family has filed charges in hopes of getting justice for their furbaby.
MCCLAIN was arrested and “charged with felony aggravated cruelty to cat or dog,” reports WTVA. Calhoun City police say they are still waiting for more information for possible misdemeanor charges. A judge set bond at $5,000, and online records show that MCCLAIN is no longer in custody!
The Mississippi Department of Public Safety and the Mississippi Highway Patrol are aware of this matter and will not be commenting on the subject at this time.
Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official news outlets. Links included.
Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.
Some of the pictures have been shared from Mr. Knight’s Facebook account.
MCCLAIN’s booking photograph provided to Voice For Us by the Calhoun County Sheriffs' Office .
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