Man Confesses to Stuffing His Starving Dog in a Suitcase, Throwing Him in a Dumpster

LOWER EAST SIDE, NY — Twenty-one-year-old Alec Litzinger confessed this week to stuffing his starving pit bull in a suitcase and throwing the suitcase in a dumpster. Litzinger told prosecutors he was scared he'd be arrested for animal cruelty if he took the emaciated dog to the vet, according to the criminal complaint from the Manhattan DA's office.

Litzinger was evicted from his apartment building at 645 Water St. on Oct. 19, and that's when he threw his dog, named Diego, in a dumpster to hide the affects of his abuse, according to the complaint. A sanitation worker told prosecutors he was taking out the trash when he saw the dog's head sticking out of the suitcase.

An ASPCA vet told prosecutors Diego's whiskers were burned at their ends from exposure to extreme heat, and his coat was stained with excrement. His front paw pads were both cut and peeling, and his ears were scabbed from untreated fly bites. The ASPCA took Diego into its hospital facility and had to feed him through a "specific protocol" to prevent re-feeding illness, which was the lack of proper nutrition, the vet told prosecutors.

Litzinger kept Diego trapped in a closet, he told prosecutors.

A representative from the New York wing of ASCPA confirmed Diego was receiving medical treatment at their care center, but she said couldn't comment further because the case was still under investigation by the NYPD.

The Water Street building's manager told prosecutors Litzinger ripped off a security camera hanging in the hallway of the building outside of his apartment's entrance, according to the complaint.

Litzinger was charged with two counts of animal cruelty, petit larceny, and criminal mischief in the third degree. His bail was set at $2,000 cash or $4,000 bond.

Photo credit: Courtesy of NYPD, Header Image: Public Domain