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A 6-month-old pit bull that owners said was the victim of sexual assault by a teenager has died.
The dog's owners and the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals have asked prosecutors for additional charges against Cory Michael Williamson, 17. And the 7th Circuit Solicitor's Office is now considering an additional charge -- that he willfully maimed an animal.
Williamson already faces a buggery charge. Each charge could carry a maximum of five years in prison.
For additional charges to be filed, it must be determined that the dog died as a result of the attack.
"The cause of death will have to be determined to have been a result of the rape," said Martin Mersereau, manager of PETA's domestic animal abuse department in Norfolk, Va.
Mersereau said he would not be surprised if that's true. "We get reports on a weekly basis -- when more often than not -- animals are horribly injured after sexual attacks or fatalities result," he said.
A Campobello woman who asked not be identified said her family's pet, Princess, died Sunday.
On May 20, her husband witnessed Williamson having sex with the dog about 9 p.m. inside the couple's fence, according to a report filed by a deputy with the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office.
"My husband was sitting there when Cory came in the gate. He eased on down the yard and got me, so I could see. Out of my 36 years of living, I've never seen anything like this," she said.
After the sex act, the woman said she took the dog to two veterinarians. At the second visit, she said evidence was taken.
And this weekend, two weeks after the incident, Princess died.
The incident has left the woman traumatized. "It made a big mark. I didn't get any sleep or couldn't eat for days," she said.
She also had trouble explaining what happened to the couple's five children, who range in age from 4 to 16. None of them witnessed the incident.
"We just told them that something happened to Princess. What could we tell them?" she said.
The woman was pleased after conversations with PETA representatives that they support additional charges.
Mersereau said 7th Circuit Solicitor Trey Gowdy is a rigorous prosecutor of animal abuse charges.
But no additional charges had been filed Wednesday night, and Williamson is being held in the Spartanburg County jail, after his bond was revoked.
The chance of making the $5,000 bail was removed because prosecutors said prior to the arrest, Williamson was free on $20,000 bond.
He had been charged last year with two counts of criminal sexual conduct with girls who were 4 and 13 years old, and he was awaiting trial, Murray Glenn, spokesman for Gowdy, said.
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