| Brandon R. Edlred & Robert B. Pettyjohn, II |
Beat 3 llama's, killing and sodomizing one | East Lake, FL | February 11, 2001 |
| Brandon R. Edlred & Robert B. Pettyjohn, II | Slashing the face of a 3rd llama | Pinellas, FL | January, 30, 2001 |
| Brandon R. Edlred & Robert B. Pettyjohn, II | Shooting death of 1 bull & the shooting of another | Odessa, FL | January 17, 2001 |
| Robert B. Pettyjohn, II | Probation violation | Land O'Lakes, FL | October 17, 2008 |
Keith Appenzeller found
his llamas known as Monopoly and Willie Wonka, when he went out for his early-morning
jog on Sunday February 11, 2001.
Brandon R. Eldred, age 17,
of 1801 East Lake Road was arrested by the Pinellas County Sheriffs Office
on a felony count of cruelty to animals after the deputies found him walking
nearby, wearing a blood splattered white shirt and carrying the top part of
a golf club. The llama's owner found the bottom part of the broken golf club
on his 5-acre property.
A neighbor who suspected there
were trespassers on his property because his animals were spooked called the
Sheriff's office. A power drill and other tools were also found on the property.
At that time, Appenzeller flagged down the deputy and told them about the
beatings. The Sheriff's department suspects that Eldred did not act alone
and burglary took place because of the tools that were found.
Robert Bruce Pettyjohn II, age 18, of 594 Ranch Road, was arrested the
next day after admitting to investigators that he beat the animals after mixing
9 beers and 4 Xanax pills on Saturday night. Pettyjohn was being questioned
about the recent burglary of a Tarpon Springs Gold Shop, when he acknowledged
his part in the llama attack. The Sheriff's office also suspected Eldred of
the golf shop burglary.
Pettyjohn was charged with 1 count
of felony cruelty to animals and Eldred was charged with 2 counts of animal
cruelty and 1 count of armed trespass. Willie Wonka had to undergo surgery
to remove his left eye. Willie Wonka's veterinary care cost $2000 and his
left eyelid is sewn shut. Initially Pettyjohn had been questioned in the area
of the llama attacks shortly before they found Eldred, but let him go because
he lived about a 1/2 mile south of the Appenzeller property just down the
street. He was later arrested that same afternoon (February 11th)
on a charge of domestic simple assault and simple battery after getting in
a fistfight with his brother-in-law.
The investigation revealed that the
llamas were beaten shortly before dawn on Sunday February 11th.
Many of the neighbors living on Ranch Road have animals including horses,
goats and lambs. Several neighbors reported that they had seen other animals
injured in the past. One neighbor reported that he recalled seeing a grotesque
sight on Ranch Road about a year before. He saw 3-4 turtles, 2 decapitated
turtle heads and 2 fish dangling on a power line that stretches across the
road in front of Pettyjohn's home. Inside the mouths of the turtles and fish
were metal hooks attached to fishing line that was tangled the power line.
They never found out who had hung the turtles and fish, but they remained
on the power line for about a month after the incident.
Pettyjohn confessed to the December
9th, 2000 burglary of the Tarpon Springs Driving Range in a written
statement. Pettyjohn said he was the lookout for the 1:30 am. Burglary. 10
golf clubs worth about $800 were taken in that burglary. David J. Sullivan,
Jr. age 18, of 825 Cypress St. E. was also charged with burglary and dealing
in stolen property about a week before the llama attacks. Sullivan broke his
ankle as he left the golf store. Pettyjohn helped him to the getaway car and
drove him to a hospital. Pettyjohn was held in the Pinellas County jail in
lieu of a $25,000 bail. Eldred was held in the county's Juvenile Detention
Center.
Deputies have encountered Pettyjohn
15 times since 1992, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's records. Pettyjohn
is the son Dr. Bruce Pettyjohn, Pinellas County's EMS Medical Director, who
twice had spoken to deputies on his son's behalf when the youth had scrapes
with the law, the records further showed. In May 1997 Dr. Pettyjohn told a
deputy investigating his son for grand theft for allegedly stealing 2 motorcycles,
that he knew a high-ranking official in the Sheriff's Office and joked that
he "might need to ask for a favor." Dr. Pettyjohn adamantly denied
making that remark and stated he and his wife, Janet, also a doctor; (an osteopath)
had cooperated with investigators and pushed for stiffer punishment for their
son. Dr. Pettyjohn further stated he had asked for court-mandated therapy
for his son for his violent streak and for drug and alcohol abuse. The Pinellas-Pasco
Sate Attorney's Office, declined to file formal charges in the motorcycle
thefts.
On January 1, 2000, at about 1
am. Deputies and paramedics were called to the Pettyjohn home for a possible
drug overdose. Robert Pettyjohn, while handcuffed to a gurney told the paramedic
he was looking for an object to use to stab the other paramedic in the heart.
Pettyjohn also told the deputy the "he would see him through a rifle
scope one day" and promptly spit on him according to other sheriff records.
Pettyjohn was taken to Helen Ellis Memorial Hospital in Tarpon Springs under
Florida's Baker Act, which allows for the involuntary commitment of people
who threaten or attempt to hurt themselves or others. Dr. Pettyjohn had his
son released from the hospital and told deputies that his son had mistakenly
taken a higher dosage of his medication Neurontin on 12-31-99, which caused
him to act the way he did. Pettyjohn pled no contest to battery on a law enforcement
officer. He was sentenced to pay a $50 fee, complete 50 hours of community
service, take an anger management course, continue his studies in school and
get individual and family counseling. He was also given a curfew and ordered
to follow the orders of the house and required to take a tour of the county
jail.
Also in January 2001, Investigators
discovered that Pettyjohn and Eldred rented a Fort Wayne, Indiana motel room,
which authorities found covered in animal feces. Authorities believe the two
killed gerbils there with a pellet gun or slingshot.
Clearwater, Florida, Attorney Denis
de Valming, who has represented numerous high-profile cases, represented Eldred
at a "reduced rate" because he wanted to make sure the teen got
a fair trial. de Valming stated, "in cases like this when the public's
sentiment is so tremendous against the citizen, they are certainly entitled
to be treated fairly. Eldred was charged as an adult. Christie Pardo of Tampa,
FL represented Pettyjohn.
In October 2000, Eldred ran through
an intersection, crashing into a car and killed a man. He was not charged.
He also has a juvenile record from age 14 for robbery.
On March 1st,
2001, Eldred and Pettyjohn were charged with shooting an $8,000 bull to death
with arrows. Eldred was also charged with hacking a 3rd llama,
3-year-old Sir Lancelot in the face with titanium meat clever on January 30,
2001. Investigators believe Pettyjohn was present at the 3rd llama
attack but only one person was doing the slashing. The cleaver was recovered
from Pettyjohn's home. Sir Lancelot had a 4-inch-long piece of flesh hanging
from his face when his owner found him. Eldred was linked to the slashing
after somebody came forward and implicated him.
Deputies issued a warrant for Pettyjohn
for the January 17th, 2001 attack on the 2 bulls at a ranch in
Odessa. Both Eldred and Pettyjohn were charged with criminal mischief, armed
trespass and 2 counts of aggravated animal abuse. One bull was shot in the
stomach and in the ribs with 2 arrows. The other bull was shot with one arrow
with minor injuries.
Pettyjohn was born in Largo, FL
and adopted as an infant to Bruce and Janet Pettyjohn. He left East Lake High
School in 1999 the same year as Eldred. Eldred was born in Plantation and
lived in Tampa, Clearwater and Palm Harbor. His parents separated when he
was 9. He and his twin sister lived with his mother Martha until he got in
an altercation with his mother's boyfriend. At age 14 he returned to his mothers
home. On January 23, 2001, a Pinellas Sheriff's Deputy responded to the Eldred
home because of a report of family trouble. Eldred told a deputy that he had
just gotten back from a 3-day trip to Tallahassee and found that he couldn't
unlock the front door. His mother had left a note, taped to the front door,
stating that she was throwing him out. His mother told the deputy later that
she could no longer cope with his behavior and disrespect. Since he was a
juvenile, the deputy told his mother that the law required her to provide
him shelter. One week later Eldred, slashed the llama Sir Lancelot
On March 7th, 2001,
Pettyjohn was charged with 2 counts of grand theft, including the theft of
a compound bow used to kill a bull and taking a van from a golf tournament
promoter. The 1999 Green Ford Windstar was recovered in a parking lot north
of the Westin Innisbrook Resort with expired tags and a dead battery 10 months
later. The van was stolen in May 2000; the bow had been stolen in August 2000,
from one of Pettyjohn's neighbors. The detectives were able to match it to
the bow used in the death of one of the bulls and the injuries to the other
bull.
After further investigation, it
was discovered that on April 13, 1998, Pettyjohn assaulted a 17-year-old in
the neck with a pen in the high school's gym area. Pettyjohn told the juvenile
that he had an ice pick, was just messing with him, and left the area laughing
with his friends. Pettyjohn was charged with aggravated battery in the incident.
He was also charged in 1999 for armed burglary and dealing with stolen property.
He was accused of breaking into a trailer and trying to pawn the saws that
were stolen.
On March 15, 2001, Pettyjohn
appeared in court for two hearings. One to get a new attorney and the 2nd
for a bond reduction for a domestic violence charge.
On April 3rd, 2001,
Pettyjohn's attorney asked Judge Richard Luce to release Pettyjohn so he could
attend a drug-treatment program in Sanford. The request was denied. His attorney
also asked the judge to reduce his bail and declare him partially indigent
so tax dollars could be used to pay for some of Pettyjohn's court-related
costs for the 2 counts of grand theft, grand theft auto and the burglary charge.
Judge Luce did not rule on the motion for partial indigence, but did adjust
Pettyjohn's bail for those 4 charges to $10,000 each. Despite that bond reduction,
Pettyjohn remained in the Pinellas County Jail in lieu of more than $180,000
bail. Pettyjohn was moved to a cell with fewer inmates for his own safety.
In October 2001, witnesses told
Investigators that Pettyjohn and Eldred had killed a neighbors pet goat named
Peter and buried the remains on Pettyjohn's property. In a sworn statement
one witness stated the goat was used as a living piņata, tortured and killed.
The witness stated the goat was tied, hung, speared, beaten with a baseball
bat and his horns cut off with a machete. Investigators were able to establish
that there was a burial site at Pettyjohn's former home on Ranch Rd. Another
new charge of felony animal cruelty has been added to all the other charges.
The necropsy on the goat revealed it was stabbed and beaten to death with
a blunt object, its head cracked into 29 pieces. Investigators asked Pettyjohn
the motive - his reply "pure pleasure". The necropsy report also
included chop wounds on the goat's right horn and stab wounds to the ribs
and spinal column. Pettyjohn, now living in New Port Richey, was once again
charged and held in the Pasco County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail.
On Tuesday, October 22nd, 2001,
Pettyjohn escaped from the Pasco County Jail in Land O' Lakes, Florida. A
law enforcement bulletin was issued at about 6:40pm for the re-arrest of Pettyjohn.
In January 2002, Pettyjohn pleaded
no contest to killing a bull with the bow and arrow. His lawyers were trying
to get him 5 years in jail and 5 years probation but the judge said no. Before
sentencing, Gerald Boutin, a psychologist hired by now retired Dr. Bruce Pettyjohn,
told the court that Pettyjohn has multiple psychological problems made worse
by drug and alcohol abuse. The psychologist further stated that Pettyjohn
suffers from mood swings, paranoia and delusions. Judge Nelly Khouzam sentenced
Pettyjohn 10 years in jail, suspended after 3 with an additional 2 years of
house arrest and 5 years of probation. He also has 150 hours of community
service to be served with an organization that deals with animals. He was
also barred from owning animals without the permission of his probation or
parole officer. He must also pay $15,000 restitution for the dead bull. If
he violates his probation he will have to serve the remaining 7 years in jail.
Pettyjohn will serve his time as a youthful offender away from the regular
prison population.
An interview summary was among
the more than 700 pages of investigative reports, court pleadings and other
documents released in response to a public records request to prosecutors.
Although most statements that Pettyjohn or Eldred made were redacted, the
records added some detail to the animal abuse allegations filed against both
Pettyjohn and Eldred in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties.
20-year-old David Gary Bowers,
an acquaintance of Pettyjohn's and Eldred, stated in a sworn statement that
Pettyjohn would shoot squirrels with a BB gun, then cut their tails off and
he would pin them to a wall in his garage. He also stated that Pettyjohn told
him he wanted to go to the nearby mansion of former NBA player Matt Geiger
and shoot Geiger's pet buffalo with a bow and arrow.
Another acquaintance, 19-year-old
Alexander Gregg, told investigators that he knew Pettyjohn had attacked the
llamas after reading about Willie Wonka's eye being gouged out in the newspaper.
He knew because Pettyjohn had discussed popping out someone's eye to Gregg.
Eldred pled guilty to 2 counts
of killing a bull, 1 count of injuring livestock and 1 count of armed trespassing
and was sentenced on January 22nd 2002 to 1 year of community control
which is similar to house arrest, 4 years probation and fined $15,000. He
is not allowed to own any animals and must serve 150 hours of community service,
100 of those with animal services. He must also be evaluated for psychological
and substance abuses treatment and also obtains his high school equivalency
diploma
Judge Ronald Ficarrotta stated
that it was clear to him that there is a difference between Eldred and Pettyjohn.
Eldred expressed remorse and regret and with that the judge would give him
a chance to turn his life around.
The Hillsborough County Animal
Services and the Humane Society of Hillsborough County has refused to allow
Eldred to work off his community services in their facilities, stating they
do not have the manpower and is not willing to jeopardize the safety of their
staff or the animals.
Since Eldred’s arrests he
has tried to turn his life around. He moved in with his older sister and her
husband in Lakeland, who can supervise him more closely than his mother who,
travels frequently for her work. He had dropped out of school in 10th
grade recently took the GED test and failed. He plans on trying again.
Upon further investigation of Pettyjohn
it was discovered that he was selling the prescription drug Xanax. Witnesses
stated that they either bought or received Xanax during large parties at his
former home. Xanax is used for anxiety or panic attacks.
When Pettyjohn went to court in
Pinellas County on February 8th 2002, the Pinellas County Prosecutors
and a defense attorney agreed to 5 years in prison followed by five years
on probation. Judge Khouzam would not accept the disposition, as she didn't
think it was appropriate. The Judge rejected the plea agreement stating she
wants more jail time and more probation as Pettyjohn has a prior juvenile
record that includes battery on a law enforcement officer and robbery charges
as well as the violent and cruel nature of the current charges. Plus Pettyjohn
show no remorse whatsoever for is actions stated the judge.
Pettyjohn's lawyer, Chip
Purcell stated he didn't know what they were going to do next, whether to
go to trial or try to negotiate a deal that was more palatable to the judge.
Judge Khouzam pointed out in court that Pettyjohn was facing 8 felony charges,
each carrying a maximum of 5 years in prison.
On Monday, March 12th,
the 2nd District Court of Appeal granted Pettyjohn's request to
remove Judge Nelly Khouzam from his case. Pettyjohn claimed he would not get
a fair trial in front of the judge. Pettyjohn's attorney filed a motion to
disqualify Judge Khouzam, stating that she had used a pre-sentence report
that was not properly authorized and contained incorrect information when
she rejected the proposed plea deal. A new judge now has to be assigned to
the case. Pettyjohn's lawyer has also requested for a change in venue and
is contesting whether the state can use some of Pettyjohn's past criminal
conduct at trial. Purcell also has filed pretrial motions to throw out Pettyjohn's
jailhouse comments. The new judge will have to rule on all these motions,
before trial in April. Pettyjohn now list his home address in Holiday, Florida.
On March 15th 2002, the corrections deputy that had mistakenly
let Pettyjohn escape from custody was suspended for 2 days without pay. It
was learned that on October 22nd 2001, Pettyjohn was to be transferred
from the Pasco jail to the Pinellas County jail but slipped into a release
line instead. For at least 1 1/2 hours 17 deputies and a sheriff's dog searched
for Pettyjohn, who turned himself in about 6 hours later.
Since the case is going to trial,
Prosecutor Bill Burgess will be able to call Eldred to testify against Pettyjohn
as well as a jailhouse informant, who allegedly has information about the
crime that has not been released by the police. Jurors may also hear about
Eldred and Pettyjohn's plan to break into Busch Gardens, a zoo/amusement park,
and slaughter the animals. However Burgess pointed out that both the informant
and Eldred have credibility problems.
On April 2nd 2002, Pinellas-Pasco
Circuit Judge Mark Shames denied a motion by Pettyjohn's lawyer to suppress
Pettyjohn's statement to the Pinellas County Sheriff's deputy about being
involved in the attack on his neighbor's pet llamas. Judge Shames ruled that
Sheriff's deputy Frank Felicetta was not investigating Pettyjohn for the attack
when the Pettyjohn made the unsolicited comments. Since the statement was
made during a "non custodial, non detention context," the deputy
was not required to have read Pettyjohn his rights. The deputy was the one
who found Eldred with his bloodied shirt, walking up the driveway to Pettyjohn's
house in the early morning of Sunday February 11th 2001. The judge
stated that the deputy had no reason to suspect that Pettyjohn had been involved
in the attack and was not questioning him about it when Pettyjohn made the
unsolicited comments of being involved.
Judge Shames also stated that he
would not rule on the motion to have the trial moved out of the Tampa Bay
area until after an attempt was made to find jurors. He further stated there
have been a handful of previous high-profile cases in Pinellas and Hillsborough
counties that were able to find jurors who had not seen or heard media reports
on those cases. Judge Shames did decide not to allow evidence from two other
incidents to be presented at Pettyjohn's trial on April 29, 2002.
Chronological Order of animal cruelty
incidents:
June-August 2000, Pettyjohn puts
the carcasses of turtles, fish and other small animals on a telephone wire
in front of his home.
January-February 2001 - Pettyjohn
kills a goat
January 17, 2001 - Pettyjohn and
Eldred shoot two bulls
January 19-22, 2001 - Pettyjohn
shoots gerbils and hamsters in an Indiana motel
January 30, 2001 - Eldred slashes
a llama with a meat cleaver
February 11, 2001 - Pettyjohn and
Eldred gouge out the eye of a llama and beat and sodomize another llama
Update: Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Mark Shames sentenced Eldred
to 3 years in state prison followed by 2 years of probation for his role in
the brutal attacks on 3 pet llamas in East Lake, Florida. He will spend the
3 years in a youthful offender facility. He must also undergo treatment
for substance abuse and is prohibited from having contact with animals and
pets while on probation.
The judge made it clear that any chance the 18-year-old may have had at avoiding
prison time was hurt when he was arrested last month for violating his probation
in another case. The judge also said he had received numerous letters and
postcards from around the country urging him to sentence Eldred to several
years in prison. One letter from the HSUS urged the judge to give a stern
sentence on behalf of its 7-million members.
Update: 5/21/02 - Pinellas-Pasco Circuit
Judge Mark Shames revoked the bail of Brandon Eldred. Eldred will now stay
in jail until he is sentenced for attacking three pet llamas. The bail was
revoked for violating his probation. Eldred was cited for racing another vehicle
and admitted to a deputy that he had consumed alcohol. Eldred is scheduled
to be sentenced on June 19th.
Update: 5/2/02 - Prosecutors tried to
get Eldred's bail revoked and have him sent to jail until he can be sentenced
for beating 3 llamas. Prosecutors stated that Eldred has violated his probation
by missing court-appointments, failing to do all the required community services,
being cited for careless driving for racing another vehicle in March (2002)
and admitting to a deputy that he had consumed alcohol. Pinellas-Pasco Circuit
Judge Mark Shames denied the state's motion.
Update: 4/26/02 Pettyjohn pled guilty to animal cruelty
charges and will go to prison for the next eight years. 3 of the years are
for the shooting of two bulls and the other 5 years for the llama beatings.
The prison sentences will run consecutively. After prison he will be on 5
years probation for 9 third degree felony charges of distribution of a controlled
substance, to burglary to grand theft. In addition Pettyjohn will have to
pay more than $10,000 restitution, $7200 will go to the victims. If he violates
his parole it could get him an additional 40 years in jail.
(Photo courtesy of MSNBC) Pettyjohn,
now age 25, is being held without bail at Land O'Lakes jail for violating
his probation. Pettyjohn went to Orlando without the permission of his
probation officer and did not return till after 9pm which violated his curfew.
References:
| The
St. Petersburg Times |
28
News - WFTS |
News
10 - WTSP-TV |
| The
Miami Herald |
Bay
News 9 |
The
Tampa Tribune |
| Court
TV |
The
Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney's Office |