Chad Edward Ellis

1-year old Lab-mix put into washing machine and dies

Euless, TX

January, 2006

Chad Edward Ellis, pleaded guilty to killing a 1-year old Labrador-mix on January 4^th by placing it in a washing machine filled with hot water.  Ellis turned the machine on with the dog inside because he was angry.  The dog, which apparently was a stray, had to be euthanized a few days later after she was taken to an animal shelter.  Antibiotics failed to stop the swelling from the burns.

Police were notified of the injuries when a friend of Ellis took the dog to the animal shelter and told authorities what had happened.

Ellis entered his plea on Wednesday, August 2^nd in Criminal District Court No. 4 in Fort Worth. The District Prosecutor stated that Ellis is scheduled to be sentenced after a pre-sentence investigation is complete in about 4-6 weeks.  Ellis faces a maximum of 2 years in jail and a $4,000 fine on the animal cruelty charge.

Ellis remains in the Tarrant County Jail with bond set at $2,500 on the animal cruelty charge. He is being held without bail on other charges.  He has also pleaded guilty to four counts of burglary of a building and two counts of theft of $1,500 and $20,000.  Those crimes occurred last summer in Euless and Grapevine.  He faces a maximum of two years in jail on each charge.

Update January 17, 2007:

Ellis was sentenced to 1 year in prison for animal cruelty.  Ellis was also sentenced on unrelated charges to 5 years’ probation on each of 3 counts of burglary of a building and on 2 counts of theft of $1,500-$20,000.

Reference:

Fort Worth Star Telegram

The Beaumont Enterprise

Austin American-Statesman

Quick DFW

The Dallas Morning News