Southeast Alabama man jailed after months-old puppy dies from burn injuries

Taurence Marshall

Taurence Marshall

A 35-year-old man with a lengthy criminal history is back in jail after authorities found his months-old puppy suffering from deadly burns.

Enterprise police officers on Friday responded to a home in the 3800 block of Rucker Boulevard on an animal cruelty complaint, said Lt. Billy Haglund. A concerned citizen summoned officers after she found a puppy in her yard that needed immediate medical attention.

The puppy, under 3 months old, had severe burns to its feet, belly and nose, Haglund said. The puppy was taken to a veterinarian but did not survive the injuries.

The injuries were believed to have happened within a 24-hour period of when the puppy was found. "It was very sad,'' Haglund said.

Detectives located a burn pit at the nearby home of Taurence Yaphet Marshall and determined he was the puppy’s owner.

Marshall was taken into custody Monday evening and remains held without bond on a first-degree animal cruelty charge. His first court appearance is set for Tuesday afternoon.

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