~ Update: October 7, 2023
On Thursday, October 5, 2023, 58-years-old TERRY EUGENE MICHAEL (pictured), was found guilty of two felony counts of animal cruelty, in connection with the senseless killing of his two dogs Caleb and Colby.
Additionally, Judge Tim Allen ruled MICHAEL is also guilty of a misdemeanor charge for falsely reporting to police.
Back in February, MICHAEL made up a horrifying scenario. He falsely reported to the Franklin County Sheriff's Office that as Caleb and Colby got loose to chase a squirrel, two males picked up the dogs and drove off.
An investigation into this incident revealed the devastating reality. MICHAEL had shot and killed 1½-year-old Caleb and 3-year-old Colby. He then abandoned them on the side of the road.
WDBJ reports that during the trial, “the defense brought up Michel’s history of mental illness, and the Commonwealth showed [Michael’s] confession where he admitted he killed the dogs to save his failing relationship with his wife.”
When MICHAEL was interviewed by an investigator with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, the investigator asked him: “Just tell us why.” According to WDBJ, MICHAEL responded: “They [the dogs] were separating us, from my wife. It wasn’t to hurt her, it was to try and save our marriage.”
MICHAEL said his wife Rhonda “gave a lot of attention to the dogs and was not spending enough time with him”, reports WDBJ.
As reported by WDBJ, during the trial, defense attorney Aaron Houchens also argued the statute for animal cruelty is “ambiguous” and motioned to strike the case twice. Judge Allen overruled both of those motions.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 2, 2023.
In an interview with WDBJ, Anita Scott, director of the Franklin County Humane Society, commented on the case and explained that an animal cruelty conviction for a felony case would give justice to Caleb and Colby and added: “It’s just been unprecedented and I hope that it will open up other avenues for these animals and for those without a voice. We need to stand up for those laws and make them stronger laws for these little animals.”
How evil do you have to be to murder your own dogs and then lie to the authorities reporting that your dogs were stolen?
58-years-old TERRY EUGENE MICHAEL (pictured), of Ferrum, reported to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office that on February 7, 2023, his two black Labradors, named Caleb and Colby, “were taken from the Waid Park area after they got loose from their owner to chase a squirrel.” MICHAEL told deputies that two males picked up Caleb and Colby, put them into an off-white color Jeep Grand Cherokee and drove off.
The Franklin County Humane Society offered a reward for the safe return of Caleb and Colby, and the Franklin County Sheriff's Office made multiple appeals to the community to help look for them.
In one of the appeals, the sheriff’s office wrote: “We continue to ask for the public's assistance in locating these loving fur babies so that they can reunite with their owners.”
Investigators searched until February 14, when someone found Caleb and Colby, lifeless, on the side of the road.
The person called the authorities to report the heartbreaking discovery and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and the Animal Control Unit of Franklin County Department of Public Safety responded to the 500 block of Carolina Springs Road.
Through a Facebook post, the sheriff’s office announced: “To our great dismay, the dogs have been identified as the two black labs, Colby and Caleb, that were stolen from the Waid Park area last week. Both have been taken to the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg for further examination and cause of death determination. We are appalled at this senseless tragedy and extend our condolences to the owners of these dogs.”
Necropsies performed on Caleb and Colby revealed the cause of death was gunshot wounds.
A deeper investigation in addition to assistance from the community led to MICHAEL’s arrest on February 16, 2023.
The murderer is being charged with two counts of felony animal cruelty, two summons for improper disposal of companion animal, and one count of filing a false police report.
Online records show the murderer is being held at the Western Virginia Regional Jail without bond.
The Franklin News-Post reports that MICHAEL’s wife, Rhonda Michel, “has also worked closely with the Franklin County Humane Society and other groups to locate Caleb and Colby.” The sheriff’s office said Ms. Michael has been cooperative and does not appear to have any involvement.
All those appeals to the public by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, the search for Caleb and Colby, the investigation, the hunt for the made-up vehicle, the community’s hopes and prayers for the safe return of two innocent dogs were all in vain as MICHAEL knew the ugly truth all along and played everybody!
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Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.
MICHAEL’s mugshots shared from the Western Virginia Regional Jail.
