Manahawkin Man Charged With Animal Cruelty In Dog's Death

TOMS RIVER, NJ - An Ocean County grand jury has indicted a Manahawkin man for one count of animal cruelty for causing the death of a Pomeranian dog named "Diesel" in May of 2016.

Jurors found that Russo "did purposely, knowingly and recklessly torment, torture, maim, unnecessarily cruelly beat, cruelly abuse or needlessly mutilate" the little dog, which died as a result of his injuries on May 25, 2016. Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato said.

The indictment stems from an animal cruelty incident reported to Stafford police at 1 a.m. on May 30, 2016 by Diesel's owner. The owner rented a room in Russo's home and had left the dog for a few hours.

"When she returned a few hours later, Russo told her that Diesel had a seizure and died," Coronato said. "Over the next few days, not believing Russo’s story, Diesel’s owner contacted Stafford PD."

The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, Stafford Township police, the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Stafford Animal Control conducted an investigation.

NJSPCA Detective Sgt. Larry Donato charged Russo with third-degree animal cruelty in August 2017 after he received the necropsy report and finished witness interviews, the prosecutor said.

Ocean County Assistant Prosecutor Kelly Biringer then presented the case to the grand jury. Det. Sgt. Kimberly Trujillo-Tovar has also assisted in the investigation.

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