Animal Abuse: Dozens of animals found dismembered - Goldsboro, NC

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Case ID: 15082

Classification: Mutilation/Torture, Neglect / Abandonment

Animal: dog (non pit-bull), reptile, rodent/small mammal (pet)

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Dozens of animals found dismembered
Goldsboro, NC (US)

Incident Date: Wednesday, Dec 3, 2008
County: Wayne

Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Lawton McKenzie

Case Updates: 3 update(s) available

A man who had dozens of dismembered animals at his eastern North Carolina home will face a judge next month on several animal cruelty charges, court officials said Wednesday.

Wayne County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Ellen Grice said Lawton McKenzie, 28, is scheduled to appear in court Feb. 26 on the three counts. He also faces a hearing Jan. 15 on a civil complaint by the county that requires he pay for the upkeep of the two dozen surviving animals seized from his home.

Animal control investigators found a machete, several knives and bowls of blood when they went to McKenzie's home near Fremont on Dec. 3, after receiving a tip that animals were being badly treated.

Investigators found the remains of goats, dogs, snakes, a fox and a turtle. The body of a dog placed on what appeared to be a homemade grill was missing its head and front paws, and a plastic storage bag outside the home contained a puppy's head, investigators said.

Investigators also seized 26 living animals, including a sickly goat that had been unable to raise its head. Animal control authorities have said all the animals are improving.

McKenzie told authorities he had been studying taxidermy and using the animal bones for necklaces.

He turned himself in late Tuesday afternoon and was later released on $3,000 bail. A telephone listing for Lawton McKenzie in Fremont had been disconnected. Court officials said Wednesday he didn't have a listed attorney.

Case Updates

A man who said he had been studying taxidermy after officials found dozens of dismembered animals at his eastern North Carolina home will face a judge on animal cruelty charges.

A court appearance is scheduled for Thursday for 29-year-old Lawton McKenzie. He is charged with three counts of cruelty to animals.

Animal control investigators found a machete, several knives and bowls of blood when they went to McKenzie's home near Fremont on Dec. 3, after receiving a tip that animals were being badly treated. Investigators said they found remains of goats, dogs, snakes, a fox, a turtle and a plastic storage bag containing a puppy's head.

Investigators also seized 26 living animals from the home. McKenzie has said he had been studying taxidermy and using the animal bones for necklaces.

Source: WRAL.com - Feb 26, 2009
Update posted on Feb 26, 2009 - 4:35PM

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A Fremont man, whom authorities charged earlier this month with three counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty, now faces a fourth charge because four dead owls were found on his property.

Lawton McKenzie, 28, of Old Black Creek Road, was arrested Jan. 6 after animal control officers seized dismembered animals, a machete, knives, bowls of blood and what appeared to be a decapitated puppy's head in a bag. Investigators also removed 26 living animals from the home.

Owls are protected under state law.

A Wayne County judge ruled Thursday that McKenzie must also pay the county for the upkeep of animals seized from his home last month.

The county filed a civil complaint against him last week and also requested he post sufficient funds with the Wayne County Clerk of Superior Court to ensure the care of the animals for an additional 30 days.

McKenzie has five working days to post the $8,640 necessary for the upkeep of the animals or he automatically forfeits them.

McKenzie has denied the animal cruelty charges, saying he was studying taxidermy and that he began picking up animal carcasses for that purpose.

Source: WRAL - Jan 15, 2009
Update posted on Jan 16, 2009 - 3:06AM

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A North Carolina man says his animal cruelty arrest is being "blown out of proportion" after authorities found dozens of dismembered animals on his property.

Lawton McKenzie tells The Wilson Daily Times that some animals were road kill he used to feed the dogs he raised. He also said he is studying taxidermy. The 28-year-old admitted butchering sheep and goats for food, but said it's in his Jamaican culture.

Authorities said they found knives, a machete and bowls of blood when they visited McKenzie's home in Fremont last month. Investigators also found dead dogs, goats, sheep, owls and other animals.

McKenzie is charged with three misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty. He was arrested earlier this week and released after posting a $3,000 bond.

Source: The Fayetteville Observer - Jan 8, 2008
Update posted on Jan 8, 2009 - 3:32PM

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References

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Dozens of animals found dismemberedGoldsboro, NC (US)

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Dozens of animals found dismembered
Goldsboro, NC (US)