Tennessee teen beheads grandmother's dog, tears out its heart and stores it in the freezer
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE: A Memphis teenager has been arrested and is facing felony animal cruelty charges after she brutally killed her grandmother's dog and left parts of her around the house.
Kyoko Smith, 18, is accused of killing her grandmother's Shih Tzu, Lucy, by cutting off the dog's head, and then putting it in a dresser drawer in the home, according to WMC Action News.
Investigators said she also took the dog's heart and put it in the freezer, with an arrest affidavit stating that the teen admitted to a neighbor that she killed the pup. They also reportedly received a picture of the dismembered animal from Smith's mother.
Neighbors were shocked to hear of such a gruesome crime taking place so close to their homes, with some saying they were unable to comprehend how someone could be so cruel to an animal.
"I really hate to hear that," said Kevin Gause. "Why someone would do that to a dog? I have no idea. Just sad to hear, very sad to hear."
Another neighbor from Millers Pond Circle who did not want to be identified revealed they had confronted Smith late one night when they caught her looking over their fence and staring at their dog. "I asked her, 'Hey, what are you doing?' She said, 'Oh your dog is cold, your dog is cold.' That's the only thing she'd say."
Neighbors said Smith's grandparents were good people, with one saying they were helping take care of the 18-year-old, who was having problems.
"They're good neighbors," Gause said. "They came over, helped me out with my yard. I help them. So they're very friendly neighbors."
Smith has been charged with intentionally killing an animal, a felony, in connection to the incident and was released from police custody after posting bond. She is expected to make her first appearance in court on Monday, November 25.