Defendant Charged With Animal Cruelty in Gruesome Death of “Onyx”
Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Bronx man has been
indicted on a felony Animal Cruelty charge for fatally stabbing and slitting the throat of an 18-
month-old pit bull that was left in his care by the dog’s owner.
District Attorney Clark said, “The defendant allegedly stabbed the young dog more than
50 times and slit his throat, allegedly because the dog had bit him. This is an incredibly vicious
crime and if the defendant is convicted he can face two years in prison. Cruelty against
animals will not be tolerated.”
District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Stephen Richardson, 33, of 1237 Fulton
Avenue, was arraigned today on a charge of felony Animal Cruelty before Bronx Supreme
Court Justice George Villegas. Bail was set at $10,000 and he is due back in court on May 18,
2018. If convicted, he faces up to two years in prison.
According to the investigation, on December 29, 2017, the defendant was watching
“Onyx,” an 18-month-old male pit bull, in his apartment, as he had been doing for about six
months. The dog’s owner stopped to check on him as she did frequently, and found him in the
bathtub dead with multiple stab wounds primarily to the face and neck.
At the same time, police were responding to a 311 complaint about possible animal
abuse at the building, and went to the apartment and arrested the defendant. A knife was
recovered.
According to the investigation, the defendant said the dog bit him and in return he
stabbed the dog in the park. Veterinarians said the dog died of a minimum of 55 sharp force
wounds, including several that caused lacerations deep into the skin and tissue.
District Attorney Clark thanked P o l i c e Officer Anthony Alvino of the 42
ND
Precinct and Dr. Alison Liu of the ASPCA for their assistance.
An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.
