Man Says Neighbors Burglarized Home, Brutally Attacked Dog

Jon Jordan, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- What started as a burglary turned into a gruesome attack on a family dog. Police said three suspects, including a minor, planned the incident by luring the homeowner away from his house late Monday night.

When John Gaches returned home late Monday night he found his back window had been broken into and several electronics missing. Not wanting to go inside, he called for his dog, Steve, a 2-year-old Pit Bull mix. After several calls for his dog to come outside, it finally came walking towards him covered in blood and leaving a trail of bloody paw prints.

"His injuries were extensive enough that it could have taken 10 surgeries to repair the damage and avoid an infection," Gaches said.

Ultimately Gaches said he felt it was better to have his dog put down.

Based on evidence later recovered, police said the suspects took a machete Gaches had on his wall at home and used it to cut the dog.

"Unfortunately one of the suspects tried to use the machete on the family dog, they then ultimately had the dog euthanized," said Oklahoma City Police Master Sergeant Gary Knight.

Oklahoma City police said Tammi Williams, her boyfriend, Robbie Brown, and the woman's teenage son are responsible. According to detectives, Gaches was lured away from his home by Williams who asked him to take her to the McDonald's inside the Bell Aisle Wal-Mart. During that time police said Brown and Williams' son allegedly broke into the home, and at some point used the machete to slice open the dogs head.

"His entire nose was split open all the way up and when the end of the knife hit all the way up, it fractured his skull. It left a hole where you could see the sinus cavity," Gaches said.

To make the situation worse, Gaches said the couple along with Williams' son lived just a few blocks away. He said he now hopes the people he had been friends with and had trusted will never see the light of day.

"I certainly hope they throw the book at them. I am trying not to think too much about vengeance right now. I am trying to remember the good things about my dog and not vision him with his head split open," Gaches said.

Williams, who has only been charged with receiving stolen property, has been released from jail and is currently living back at home. It is unclear if Williams' son and Brown are still in custody, however, both are facing charges of second-degree burglary, receiving stolen property and cruelty to animals, which is considered a felony.