Lexington County Man Faces Charges for Ill-treatment of Animals
In a shocking instance of animal cruelty, a man from Lexington County, South Carolina, has been arrested on charges of ill-treatment of animals and torture of a cat. The man identified as Jon Eric Creech, 44, has been under investigation by Lexington County Animal Control for over a year, before being booked into the detention center on Friday, March 15, 2023.
Difficulties in the Investigation
The convoluted case saw difficulties in terms of finding Creech and inconsistencies related to the weapon that was allegedly used to harm the cat. Investigators faced challenges in mapping the whereabouts of the suspect during the course of the year-long investigation.
Besides, Creech initially handed over a BB gun, claiming it as the firearm that may have injured the cat. However, forensics indicated otherwise. Noting the incongruity, a veterinarian who treated the injured cat did an x-ray and performed a surgery, bringing out small fragments from its head and body. The fragments underwent several tests conducted by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), which indicated they unlikely originated from a BB gunshot.
Uncovering the Truth
Supporting the doubts around the weapon, senior investigators from Lexington County Sheriff’s Department proposed that the cat might have been targeted with a shotgun firing lead shots. This theory coincided with the fragmentation observed in the x-ray and surgery.
Creech, demonstrating his innocence, proposed to undergo a polygraph test multiple times. Despite setting up appointments for the same, he always came up with excuses for not complying with his promises, extending the duration of the investigation and leaving the authorities unsatisfied.
Justice in the Horizon
After enduring the extended hours of the case investigation, the Lexington County Animal Control officer alongside a Sheriff’s Department investigator, finally managed to lay out their obtained evidence before a judge. Upon reviewing the facts, the judge issued a warrant, leading to Creech’s eventual arrest last Friday.
According to jail records, as of Monday noon, Creech was no longer contained in jail. As per the mandate, despite these charges, all suspects remain innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.
As stated by the spokesperson of HERE News Network, “Cases of animal cruelty cannot be taken lightly. We hope that a thorough investigation and trial will bring justice to the aggrieved party.”
