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JAMES MICHAEL LYSTER arrested for viciously beating his small dog because he “got mad”

- Florida, USA -


The Lee County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of 52-years-old JAMES MICHAEL LYSTER (pictured), a convicted felon.


According to the incident report obtained by Voice For Us, on Tuesday, August 22, 2023, at 3:13 a.m. the sheriff’s office received a report about possible animal abuse at an apartment in Park Crest Apartments on 6611 Lakeshore Lane in Fort Myers.


Deputies were dispatched to the location and while enroute, deputy Martinson was advised by dispatch that the reporting party said that he could hear loud banging, a male's voice yelling, and a dog squealing.


Upon arrival, deputy Martinson knocked on the door of the apartment in question several times but no one answered. Deputies could see that the lights were on within the apartment and when deputy Martinson knocked again, LYSTER opened the door. Immediately deputy Martinson “observed blood splatter on the entry way floor to the apartment”, stated the report.


Deputy Martinson asked LYSTER if he had any dogs and LYSTER replied he had one Pomeranian. When deputy Martinson advised LYSTER of the allegations and requested to see his dog, LYSTER said he would bring the dog out, denied access to the deputy, and shut the door.

Meanwhile deputies were able to hear sink water running in the apartment.

LYSTER then re-opened the front door and dropped an 8-year-old white in color Pomeranian onto the ground by the deputies' feet without saying a word.


The Voiceless Victim, named Benji, had his face covered in blood. Benji was bleeding from the nose, mouth, and ears, was shaking and trembling, was in severe pain, could not stand, and was tender around the abdomen area.

Deputy Martinson asked LYSTER what happened to the dog and he replied: “I got mad”.


Deputies handcuffed LYSTER and walked him to a patrol unit for investigation while Benji, was transported to Blue Pearl Animal Hospital for treatment.


Deputy Martinson completed a safety sweep of the residence to make sure no other injured animals or persons were inside of the residence.

While cleaning the residence, deputies observed blood splatter in multiple rooms including, living room, bathroom, and master bathroom.


Deputy Martinson then made contact with the reporting party who said in a sworn statement that he heard what sounded like a dog being beaten, loud banging, and squealing.


Detective Clark arrived on the scene and after learning the facts, he made contact with LYSTER and read him his Miranda Warning. In his statement, LYSTER said that Benji was barking due to the neighbor’s dog barking and woke him up. LYSTER stated he then grabbed Benji and squeezed him then struck him in the head area.


LYSTER claimed he did not strike Benji more than once. However, the condition Benji was found in by deputies indicated otherwise.


Based on the statements and the apparent injuries to Benji, it was believed that the inside of LYSTER's apartment would provide evidence of a crime. Detective Clark requested a search warrant at 5:45 a.m. which Judge Schreiber signed at 5:50 a.m.


Detective Clark entered LYSTER's apartment and observed blood throughout it. The bedroom where LYSTER was sleeping appeared to be the scene where the abuse inflicted upon Benji took place. According to the report, on the wall there was blood splatter across it consistent “with what is believed where Benji was thrown against the wall.” At the foot of the wall was a puddle of blood where it seems Benji may have laid down.


It is believed that during the incident LYSTER “injured his hand and right foot possibly from kicking Benji”, stated the report.


Based on evidence collected and statements, probable cause was established for the arrest of LYSTER for one felony count of aggravated animal cruelty.


Court records show that LYSTER’s arraignment is set for September 26, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. before Judge J. Frank Porter.


At the press conference during which Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno announced LYSTER’s arrest, he said that “Veterinarians discovered that Benji had suffered a broken jaw, internal bleeding in his abdomen, and he will need additional surgeries in the future to remove his broken teeth.”


Benji is now in the care of Lee Domestic Animal Services and is expected to recover fully but it will take a while. At one point Sheriff Marceno pointed at a picture of Benji covered in blood and rightfully said: “That’s not a human being that does that to a poor, defenseless little animal. I can promise you this is going to stop. We will never stop working to protect those who cannot protect themselves. That’s not a human being that does that. That’s a cold-hearted person that had no regard for life.”


Sheriff Marceno added that if a loving home cannot be found for Benji, his grandmother would love to have him.


According to the sheriff’s office, LYSTER has a history of criminal activity in Louisiana, Texas, and North Carolina, his birthplace.


My heartfelt thank you to the neighbor who did the right thing by reporting animal cruelty. Sir, you are the reason why Benji is still alive!


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.



LYSTER’s mugshot shared from the Lee County Jail.


Additional Sources





 
 
 

ANTHONY JABRAIL KNIGHT III arrested after posting a video on social media showing his dead dog

- Florida, USA -


The Lee County Sheriff’s Office arrested 31-years-old ANTHONY JABRAIL KNIGHT III (pictured) also known on Facebook as ANTONIO RODRIGUEZ.


According to the arrest report obtained by Voice For Us, on August 8, 2023, the Lee County Sheriff's Office received information about a possible animal abuse and/or neglect incident. The sheriff’s office received a video made by KNIGHT, which he had posted on Facebook.


In the video, KNIGHT appears to be in a residential garage and the caption “$10,000 down the drain” appears over the video. KNIGHT can be seen showing what appeared to be a dead dog in a crate inside a garage. KNIGHT then says: “I know it's too hot outside” and that the dog has been living in the garage for one to two years. The video goes on to show KNIGHT touching the dog who “appears stiff and lifeless”, stated the report.

As if showing a dead dog was not cruel and sickening enough, KNIGHT made further posts on his social media accounts saying: “Came home to two dead dogs this year, and it was actually my fault this time.”


The sheriff's office's Animal Cruelty Task Force was notified and the following day, August 9, 2023, they responded to KNIGHT’s residence on 949 Meadow Road in Lehigh Acres.


Detective Conlin made contact with KNIGHT and asked him if he had any dogs. KNIGHT answered his dog had passed away the day before and pointed across the street to a vacant lot on 950 Meadow Road where he buried the dog.


In the media release, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office refers to the Voiceless Victim as

Kalea.


Detective Conlin mentioned to KNIGHT the video he posted the day before and KNIGHT invited deputies inside his home. He then took them to the garage and showed them where Kalea was kept, along with the dog crate that was seen in the video. KNIGHT said he keeps a portable A/C unit in the garage, but when he turned it on, deputies could see that it was not hooked up to a window or door.


According to the reports, KNIGHT spontaneously uttered: “I know it was the heat, she died with her head in the empty water bowl.”


On the vacant lot where KNIGHT buried Kalea, deputies saw a small area with freshly disturbed earth and a small mound of dirt.


Detective Conlin requested one search warrant for KNIGHT’s property and another for the lot where Kalea had been buried.

The warrants were executed the same day, August 9, 2023, at approximately 12:25 p.m.


Detectives exhumed Kalea’s remains and sent them off for a necropsy. The Voiceless Victim is described in the report as a 2-year-old American Bully.


In the garage of KNIGHT’s residence, detectives found two empty food/water bowls as well as the crate in which Kalea was confined. In the kitchen pantry, detectives found a half-full dog food storage bin. Detectives reported that the A/C inside the residence was around 78 degrees and there was a noticeable difference in the heat when entering the garage.


KNIGHT was placed under arrest and when he was interviewed, he said he went back home from work yesterday to find the dog dead.


According to the report, KNIGHT “acknowledged the canine probably died from the heat and explained he was aware those breeds of dogs are sensitive to heat.”

He admitted to not leaving water for Kalea and to not leaving on the portable unit in the garage. The report further stated that although KNIGHT “believed the dog died from heat, he believes it wasn't that hot in the garage” and added that Kalea “was healthy and had no medical issue.”


KNIGHT is charged with one felony count of cruelty to animals and two counts of probation violation as he was on probation at the time of the incident.

At the time of writing, records show that KNIGHT is being held in the Lee County Jail on a $10,000 bond.


In a statement, Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said: “See it, say it, make the call, it works. The hero that reported this ensured that this dredge of society will face justice.”


In the media release, in regard to Kalea being found dead with her face in an empty bowl, Sheriff Marceno said: “With Knight’s previous drug arrests, you think he would know bowls are supposed to be full.”


Sheriff Marceno went on to say that after KNIGHT was arrested, he “got a ride in the fully air-conditioned Marceno Motel Courtesy Van, a courtesy he didn’t extend to Kalea.”


Arrest records show that KNIGHT has thirteen (13) previous arrests in Lee County going back to 2009 when he was 18-years-old. Prior convictions include possession of marijuana as well as possession of cocaine, fleeing to elude, and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. “Enjoy YOUR cage”, said Sheriff Marceno to KNIGHT.


According to court records, KNIGHT’s Case Management Conference is scheduled for November 7, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. before Judge Bruce E. Kyle.


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.



KNIGHT’s mugshot shared from the Lee County Jail.


Additional Source:





 
 
 

JESSE ALLAN MYERS arrested after three dogs he was caring for were found dead

- Florida, USA -


The Lee County Sheriff’s Office arrested 25-years-old JESSE ALLAN MYERS (pictured).


The case that resulted in MYERS’s arrest dates back to June. According to the arrest affidavit obtained by Voice For Us, on Saturday, June 24, 2023, the Lee County Sheriff's Office received a complaint about three dogs who had been beaten to death with a baseball bat at a property on 8190 Tolles Drive in North Fort Myers. The reporting parties identified MYERS as the individual who had beaten the dogs.


Lee County Sheriff Deputy Stahl responded to the location and attempted to conduct a well-being check on the animals at the residence. Upon arrival, along the back west side of the property line, she saw two sheds and “no discernible residence on the lot.” All the surrounding neighbors Deputy Stahl made contact with, confirmed to her that there were multiple dogs kept on the property and an unknown individual would go periodically to take care of them.


Through a window of the shed, Deputy Stahl could see a puppy inside a kennel. The puppy appeared to be without water or ventilation. Deputy Stahl forced entry into the shed given the condition the puppy was in, and inside, she found a container with dog food and a metal baseball bat. Lee County Domestic Animal Services were called to the scene to evaluate the puppy's condition.


Based on the preliminary findings, Lee County Sheriff Detective Hunt also responded to the scene and took digital photographs of the scene. During a cursory inspection of the property, officers found a “freshly dug plot of dirt” between the shed and the chain link fence. At that point, Detective Hunt requested a search warrant.


The baseball bat was confiscated as evidence and officers dug into the ground. At approximately ten to eight inches, they found three deceased dogs wrapped in a towel. The furbabies were turned over to Domestic Animal Services.


An investigation revealed the name of the property's owner. His daughter arrived while detectives were still on the scene. The woman, Naomi Lutz, explained that she previously resided there with her boyfriend, MYERS, until the property was damaged by Hurricane Irma.


Lutz told detectives the dogs were hers and that they were kept in kennels in the shed. She then identified the three deceased dogs as Jake, Nyla, and Odin. The surviving puppy was identified as Sage. Lutz went on to state that the day before, June 23, 2023, MYERS contacted her to let her know that three of the dogs were dead. According to the affidavit, LUTZ said that when she arrived, Jake appeared to have bruising and possibly broken ribs, and Nyla had a “spot” by her arm. Lutz did not note any other physical trauma or injuries. She said the dogs were seen last year by Pine Island Animal Clinic.


When Detective Hunt contacted the clinic, he learned that on March 15, 2022, Jake and Nyla had been seen for rabies vaccinations and that Lutz had been billed.


On June 26, 2023, Lee County Sheriff Deputy VanPelt forwarded to the ASPCA a Necropsy and Osteology request to establish the cause of death of Jake, Nyla, and Odin.


Three days later, MYERS met with Detective Hunt at the sheriff's office to be interviewed. According to the affidavit, MYERS explained that he had been taking care of the dogs on the property for four to five years and added that he would go every day after work to feed them and give them water. MYERS went on to state that when he went to the property on Thursday, June 22, 2023, the dogs were alive. He let them out, fed them, gave them water, and locked them back in the kennels before leaving. MYERS said he found Jake, Nyla, and Odin deceased when he returned the following day and contacted Lutz. MYERS said Lutz arrived with a friend and buried the dogs. According to MYERS, he was not able to help bury them.


Meanwhile, the Voiceless Victims were being examined by ASPCA Forensic Veterinarian Dr. Ashley Saver.

She reported that all three of them were found to be in early stages of decomposition and therefore limited necropsies were performed. Evaluation of the major muscle group revealed “no overt bruising”. Upon reviewing the radiology reports, no traumatic abnormalities were detected.


According to the affidavit, “Given the findings of a converted shed with four dogs runs, with limited ventilation (one window), the degree of decomposition of the bodies, the environmental circumstances, the information provided in sworn interviews, and the absence of any significant underlying findings on the necropsies and radiology reports, it was determined the most likely cause of death is consistent with heatstroke.”


Detective Hunt found probable cause to arrest and charge MYERS, primary caregiver for the dogs, with three felony counts of aggravated animal cruelty.


Arrest records show that MYERS was arrested on September 4, 2023, and released the following day. According to court records, MYERS’ arraignment is scheduled to take place on October 9, 2023, at 8:30 before Judge Robert J. Branning.


Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said in a statement: “I couldn’t be more proud of my deputies and detectives who acted without delay. The Animal Cruelty Task Force will investigate these crimes to the fullest extent and bring justice to all animals in Lee County.”


Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official news outlets. Link included.

Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.



MYERS’ mugshot shared from the Lee County Jail.





 
 
 

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