"Devil Dog": Woman Burned, Hanged Dog Who Chewed Bible, Say South Carolina Police

Devil Dog? No, Devil Woman.

This is the kind of story that chills my blood. Clearly psychotic, this woman needs mental help immediately and I can’t even imagine what the dog went through.

— Kenn

By Edecio Martinez For CBS News.com

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A Spartanburg County woman has been charged with felony animal cruelty, accused of hanging her nephew’s pit bull with an electrical cord and burning its body after the dog chewed on her Bible, authorities said Monday.

When questioned by police and animal control officers, Miriam Smith told them the female dog named “Diamond” was a “devil dog” and she feared it might harm neighborhood children, according to an incident report from the county’s Environmental Enforcement Department.

Smith, 65, was arrested Sunday and remains in the Spartanburg County jail. Bond had not been set.

She faces 180 days to five years in prison if convicted.

Authorities said the 1-year-old dog was kept outside on a chain and chewed the Bible that had been left on Smith’s porch. The dog’s remains were found under a pile of dried, cut grass. Part of the orange cord was still around the dog’s neck and a smell of kerosene still hung in the air, the animal control officer wrote in her report.

The dog was killed about two weeks ago when Smith’s nephew was forced to spend several days away from home because of winter weather in the area, authorities said.

Smith is the first person is Spartanburg County to face a felony charge under South Carolina’s tougher animal cruelty law, said Jaime Nelson, director of the county’s Environmental Enforcement Department.

Smith’s mental state will likely affect what kind of penalties she faces, Nelson added. He said he was stunned by how flat the woman’s emotions sounded as she recounted on tape what happened to the dog.

“She just acted like – what’s done has been done,” Nelson said.

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Ifoalum2
Ifoalum2
13 years ago

Sorry to say but the law’s the law, an if they let her off cuz she’s old or not all there in the head then thats how the rest will be let off of animal cruelty. So sorry she nuts but the dog didn’t have to die for it. Slap the to her. she care why should anyone care about her. I sure don’t. I’m so tired of these poor animals being beat on tied up burned hung it just sickens me its time they stood by the dam laws an start putting them away for any cruelty to any animal… then i’ll bet it will stop!!!!! Now i have to go throw up from this dam story cuz it made me so sick…

DK
DK
13 years ago

I couldn’t agree more with ifoalum2. This story sickens me, but not as much as the woman who did the horrific cruelty to an innocent animal. Better animals should be homeless, than left with such horrible, crazy people. At least they stand some chance of running away on their own. I say the punishment should fit the crime. Let’s just stand emotionless and hang her and then burn her body. Perhaps we can just say we were crazy too and be let off. This poor, defenseless animal was cruelly tortured for NO reason, and she deserves to live for what reason??????

puggirl
puggirl
13 years ago

I think she should be protested like Mike Vick. I think animal lovers near and far should show up at the court house when she goes to trial to represent for that poor dog. This type of cruelty has got to stop.

Ynessandsandra
Ynessandsandra
13 years ago

I agree this HAS to stop! Tougher laws need to be implemented. My love goes out to all dogs and animals.

Ynessandsandra
Ynessandsandra
13 years ago

I agree this HAS to stop! Tougher laws need to be implemented. My love goes out to all dogs and animals.

Daziling
Daziling
13 years ago

Just lets do the same to her.

Daziling
Daziling
13 years ago

Just lets do the same to her.

Linda
Linda
13 years ago

The POOR chained dog likely chewed on the Bible because the witch hadn’t fed him in who knows how long! The maximum penalty of 5 years is not nearly enough! One gets life for a human murder and only 6 MONTHS to 5 years for MURDERING a dog??? I am not suggesting the 2 crimes should get the same (although I wish they would), but the discrpency is way too big!! It’s not even just about killing a dog, it is the tortorous way she did it!!! Imagine how that poor baby felt!!!! People get off with minimal or no punishment WAY TOO often and it simply makes NO sense!! It is definitely a great step forward that all (most?) states now call such crimes felonies…….now they just need to punish them as such!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

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