Grand Jury Indicts Monmouth Pair For Brutal Treatment Of Pit Bull Named Destiny

FREEHOLD – The young pit bull named Destiny rescued by the Monmouth County SPCA was so severely dehydrated, starving and suffering from infected wounds that she couldn't raise her head or stand.

A Monmouth County grand jury returned a 14-count indictment charging Andre P. Parker, 31, Sunset Avenue, Asbury Park, and Tara R. Robinson, 43, Lawrence Avenue in the Ocean Grove section of Neptune Township, with multiple counts of animal cruelty and related charges, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said.

The case was investigated by the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, the Monmouth SPCA and the Asbury Park and Neptune police departments after the SPCA received an anonymous tip about the dog's horrific condition.

The investigation found that Parker severely abused the young pit bull in January and February of this year. He secretly removed Destiny from his Asbury Park resident and left her with Robinson in Ocean Grove. When he was questioned after the tip was received, he lied and said he knew nothing about any abused dog, Gramiccioni said.

Investigators found Destiny at Robinson's home after they received another tip. Robinson also lied, but police found the injured dog hidden behind a couch and contacted the MCSPCA.

"She was taken to Red Bank Veterinary Hospital, where it was determined that her condition was so grave that a "Do Not Resuscitate" order was issued. But after a long stay, Destiny improved and she eventually made a full recovery," Gramiccioni said.

Fortunately, the dog was recently adopted and placed in her "forever home" with an SPCA family.

Parker is charged with three counts of third-degree animal cruelty, two counts of fourth-degree hindering apprehension, one count of fourth-degree tampering witheEvidence, and one count of fourth-degree obstruction.

Robinson is charged with two counts of third degree animal cruelty, four counts of fourth degree hindering apprehension and one count of fourth-degree obstruction, Gramiccioni said.

Parker and Robinson each face a sentence of three to five years in a New Jersey state prison if convicted of animal cruelty, he said.

They each face up to 18 months in state prison on each count if convicted of any of the fourth-degree counts

Photo: Patch file photo.