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Pet tortoise stolen, stabbed
Ventura, CA (US)Incident Date: Saturday, Jul 7, 2007
County: Ventura
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 1 files available
Defendant/Suspect: Jose Mosqueda
Case Updates: 2 update(s) available
Bob, the pet tortoise from Ventura who was stolen and mutilated, was transferred to a turtle rehabilitation center late July 11 afternoon.
"He's probably out of the woods barring any infection," said Jeanie Vaughan, owner of Turtle Dreams, an animal rescue and rehabilitation center in Santa Barbara where Bob was taken. He is expected to stay there for several weeks to recover from his injuries.
The 42-pound African spurred tortoise was stable Wednesday morning but traumatized during a morning examination and still has a feeding tube inserted in his stomach to provide food and medication, Vaughan said.
"The fact that he is stable enough to be moved to rehab is a very good sign," said Vaughan, who has been monitoring the tortoise since he arrived at Adobe Animal Hospital in Santa Barbara. "But these are cold-blooded animals that take a long time to heal, so we will have to keep a close watch."
Meanwhile, an account has been set up at Washington Mutual to help Bob's owners, Dorothy and Bill Sullivan, pay for the veterinarian expenses.
The family has been flooded with well-wishers and people offering money for Bob's care since news broke of how the tortoise was snatched over the weekend of July 7-8 out of the family's backyard, mutilated and dumped in thick brush behind a Ventura apartment complex.
The family recovered the 25-year-old tortoise on July 8, and police continue to seek the person or people responsible for his injuries, which included deep cuts to his neck and legs, and stab wounds to his shell.
"The outpouring has been overwhelming," Dorothy Sullivan said Wednesday, adding she received a telephone call from a well-wisher in Montana. "After what happened to Bob, I had lost a lot of faith in the human race. But it's been absolutely wonderful how people are recognizing that Bob needs help and that what was done to him is a serious crime."
Anyone wishing to donate can send money to Washington Mutual, P.O. Box 877, Ventura, CA 93002. Checks should be made out to William Sullivan in care of Bob, Account No. 492-105108-5. Wire transfer can be routed to Account No. 322271627.
The couple, who have a 6-year-old son who is autistic and close to the family tortoise, visited with Bob for two hours Wednesday evening at the rehabilitation center.
"He was so scared. Seeing his wounds was tough," Dorothy Sullivan said.
The normally playful tortoise was drawn into his shell during the visit, she said.
Anyone with information about Bob is asked to contact police detectives at 339-4394 or make an anonymous call to Crime Stoppers at 385-TALK. Information that leads to an arrest could result in a reward of up to $1,000, police said.
Case UpdatesJose "Tony" Mosqueda, who was 18 at the time of his arrest, pleaded no contest in September and was sentenced on Nov 5, 2007 to 270 days in jail and five years probation for felony animal cruelty. Mosqueda was prohibited from owning or having access to pets. His jail will be reduced for time served -- 110 days -- and good behavior -- another 55 days.
Prosecutors said Mosqueda snatched the 40-pound African spurred tortoise from a back yard on July 7, slashed its legs and neck, punctured its shell and threw it against a wall.
The tortoise survived, and Mosqueda was also ordered to pay $5,400 in veterinary bills and other associated costs of treatment.
Meanwhile, the family who owns the tortoise says their pain continues, and the ordeal has been particularly hard on a 12-year-old autistic boy who was making great strides in his development before the vicious attack. The boy's mother, Dorothy Sullivan, said the tortoise, named Bob, was her son's lifeline "out of the silent world of autism," KNBC's Chuck Henry reported.
"Bob brought out my son's speech, and allowed him to interact with the world," Sullivan said. "Since Bob's attack, my son has struggled; he has regressed tremendously."
Sullivan also claims the family has been threatened, and she says the family's dachshund was poisoned because she refused to drop the charges against Mosqueda. Police said they were continuing to investigate.
"We have received death threats, and I was told [my son and I] would 'Get one in the head if we did not drop the charges'... " Sullivan said. "I have had to put my son in therapy, and his seizures have returned. He had been seizure-free for a year prior to this event. After years of working with my son, he was having his best year. [But] ... now my son is afraid that he will be taken and harmed. It is difficult for an autistic child to trust enough to leave the silent world of autism, and my son had finally emerged into our world. Now we have to fight to keep him from going silent again." | Source: NBC San Diego - Nov 6, 2007
Update posted on Nov 7, 2007 - 4:47PM |
A man who police believe tortured an endangered tortoise by trying to cut him out of his shell and throwing him against a wall was arrested Thursday.
The 25-year-old African spurred tortoise, named Bob, was slashed and stabbed after being stolen from the home of an autistic boy. After he was brutalized, the turtle was dumped in brush behind an apartment complex and an anonymous caller told the family where to find him.
Witnesses to the torture provided information that helped lead to the arrest of Jose "Tony" Mosqueda, 18, of Ventura, who was booked at the county jail for investigation of cruelty to animals and grand theft, police said.
"It's a good feeling. It's kind of neat," Sgt. Jack Richards said. "It just really pulled at some heartstrings and it's good to have someone in custody."
The turtle is recovering at Turtle Dreams, a Montecito rehabilitation center. He remained in guarded condition and was being fed through a tube in his neck.
"He's getting more relaxed and coming out of his shell" more often, said Jeanie Vaughan, the center's owner. "If he continues without any infection, I think he's going to be fine."
Earlier this week, he gave owners Dorothy and Bill Sullivan some hope when he reached a key milestone in his recovery: bringing his head out of his shell and taking his first steps.
The tortoise collapsed but then managed to take eight steps.
"When he finished, he had a tear in his eye ... as did the rest of us," Dorothy Sullivan said. "It was an excellent, great sign."
Dorothy Sullivan said that she and her son danced with happiness when they heard of the arrest. Her son has not been sleeping well since the attack, she said.
"His security fell apart," she said. "He was afraid that somebody was going to come and steal him and take him away and hurt him."
"Now he feels safe. Now he can go out and play," she said.
The family has installed security cameras and an alarm on the backyard fence so that Bob will be safer when he returns. | Source: SFGate.com - Jul 19, 2007
Update posted on Jul 20, 2007 - 12:19PM |
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