- Florida, USA -
⚠️WARNING⚠️The article contains details some of you may find distressing⚠️
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of 16-year-old COLESON CHARLES HIBBARD (pictured).
In a brief Facebook post the sheriff’s office said that the details regarding this case are so “disturbing” that they could not be shared on social media.
I obtained a copy of the Probable Cause Affidavit, according to which, on the late evening of December 29, 2024, a deputy responded to the Tractor Supply Store on 16501 SW Warfield Boulevard in Indiantown, in reference to a "suspicious incident." Upon arrival, the deputy met with the complainant whom I will refer to as Ms. CT.
Ms. CT said that she had received a text from a friend of HIBBARD’s which the friend received in a group chat, and was about HIBBARD stabbing a dog. The text message stated that the stabbing had been recorded and posted on Instagram.
Ms. CT confronted HIBBARD about the video and got into an argument during which HIBBARD told Ms. CT not to call the cops.
Ms. CT showed the deputy the video which depicted a light brown Pitbull with a white leash attached to him/her. The dog was bleeding heavily from his/her chest while he/she was lying on the ground. The affidavit stated that the dog was still alive in the video as his/her eyes were moving and the furvictim was taking breaths. The video showed a hand holding a knife with a silver blade which had blood on it. The person taking the video can be heard saying: “just go to bed, just go to bed” as the dog lies on the ground bleeding out.
Ms. CT advised the deputy that HIBBARD was given the dog early December by the friend who sent her the text and the video. According to Ms. CT, HIBBARD planned on using the dog as a hunting dog for wild hogs.
Meanwhile, other deputies located HIBBARD at his home and placed him under arrest. After he was read his Miranda Rights, deputies asked him where the dog was to which he answered: "I don't know." Deputies also asked him why he had stabbed the dog. HIBBARD said he did not do it.
Deputies then asked Ms. CT whether she gave them consent to search HIBBARD's room to see if they could locate the knife seen in the video. Ms. CT agreed but the deputies did not find it. At that point the deputies asked Ms. CT to watch the video again just to confirm some details and she recognized the area where the video was taken, which was at the back of her property near an oak tree by a tree stand. Deputies canvassed the area but attempts to find the knife were unsuccessful.
Eventually, one of the deputies found the knife used to stab the dog on a table in the back area of the outside of the house.
HIBBARD was first transported to the Martin County Jail and booked for felony animal cruelty. He was later taken to the Department of Juvenile Justice in Fort Pierce.
I have reached out to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office to request additional information about the furvictim. I was told in an email that they are not sure about the dog’s age, name, or gender. I have also requested pictures of the dog and I was told: “The only photos we have are videos with horrific images of the dog being stabbed to death, tied to a tree and laying in a fetal position with large stab wounds. Those are the only things not releasable because he is a juvenile and the video of his crimes have no exemptions under Florida Statute.”
I learned from the sheriff’s office that HIBBARD’s offence is punishable with up to five years in prison and that “he was already on felony probation for chasing two people with a knife in another county.” The sheriff’s office further told me that the investigation is ongoing to see “if there were any other animals killed at his hands.”
I took the liberty of naming the Voiceless Victim Puffin for the tribute image. Should his/her given name be made public, I will rectify it accordingly.
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Disclaimer: This story is sourced from the Probable Cause Affidavit provided to 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.
HIBBARD’s mugshot shared from the Martin County Sheriff's Office
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