Erin Wylie and Shannon Walters

Drowning a Dog, burglary and transporting across state lines

Eliot, ME Portsmouth, NH

May 8, 2004

;(Photo courtesy of WMUR) Wylie allegedly didn't like her boyfriends dog, so;her girlfriend drowned the 2-year-old dachshund named Dewey in a bathtub.

Wylie was jealous of the dog. Knowing the dog was dead she helped put up wanted posters to find the dog, and cried with her boyfriend and comforted him. Wylie and Walters staged a burglary by slicing a screen while her boyfriend was at work.

 (Photo courtesy of the Portsmouth Herald) Wylie, a hospital secretary, along with her girlfriend Shannon Walters faked a robbery by breaking into the home of Wylies boyfriend Pat Collins in Eliot Maine, stole his laptop computer, a camera and the dog.  The two took the dog to Wylies home and drowned Dewey in the bathtub. 

Walters was arrested on Friday, May 21st at 10pm in the parking lot of the Dairy Queen at the Kittery circle.  It is alleged the women met there to discuss how to dispose of the remains of the dog, which were stuffed in a garbage bag in the back of Walters’s truck.  Wylie was arrested when she went to bail out Walters.

 (Photo courtesy of the Portsmouth Herald) Walters, who worked at an insurance company, reportedly told the police that Wylie was Collin's girlfriend and did not like the dog.  She further stated the burglary was staged so they could take the dog.  Walters reportedly told the police she held the dog under water until it drowned, while Wylie waited in a nearby room.

The women were charged with felony burglary and receiving stolen property in Maine.  Animal cruelty charges have not yet been filed by the Portsmouth NH police, pending further investigation.  They were transported to the York County Jail in Maine, made bail and released.  Their arraignment is scheduled for July 29th.

Police from Kittery and Eliot Maine along with Newmarket and Portsmouth, NH are involved in the investigation.  The ruthless duo were caught because of a tip called into police after a woman saw some emails the 2 perpetrators had exchanged.

Update May 26, 2004: Wylie and Walters were charged with animal cruelty by the Portsmouth NH on Sunday 5/23/04. Wylie was charged as an accomplice to the act. The 2 women turned themselves into the police, after arrest warrants were issued.

(Photo Courtesy of the Portsmouth Herald) To cover her tracks, Wylie placed an advertisement in the Lost and Found section of the Portsmouth Herald on Thursday, May 20th. The Portsmouth Herald graciously ran the ad for free from Friday May 21st to Monday May 24th. A Herald advertising representative realized on Monday morning that the ad was bogus, while watching televised news about the case.

Walters was released on $10,000 personal recognizance bail. Wylie was released on $5000 personal recognizance bail and $170 cash bail. The two will be arraigned in Portsmouth District Court on June 21st at 8:30am.

The two each face a Class C felony burglary and a Class D misdemeanor for receiving stolen property in Maine. Walters was release on $1500 cash bail and Wylie was released on $1000 cash bail from the York County Jail in Alfred Maine on Saturday 5/22/04.

If convicted on animal cruelty charges the women could spend 3.5 to 7 years in prison. If convicted on the burglary charges, they could serve up to 5 years in prison. If convicted of receiving stolen property they could face up to 1 year in jail.

Update June 20, 2004: Walters and Wylie were scheduled to be arraigned in the case on Monday June 21, 2004 in Portsmouth District Court. But through their attorneys, they have waived their rights to that court hearing and have already pleaded not guilty to felony animal-cruelty charges.

The women also face felony charges of burglary and misdemeanor charges of receiving stolen property in the Maine court system. Walters and Wylie have yet to enter pleas on those charges. They are scheduled to be arraigned on July 29,2004, according to clerks at Maine District Court in York, Maine.

Update July 8, 2004: Walters, who is accused of killing the dog on May 18, has pleaded not guilty to a Class B felony animal-cruelty charge. Tuesday was Walters’ probable-cause hearing and her first court appearance in the case. Wylie’s probable-cause hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on July 13 in Portsmouth District Court.

Update July 14, 2004: Wylie waived her right to a probable cause hearing in Portsmouth District Court on July 13th. The case will now go to the Rockingham County Superior Court in Brentwood to determine whether there is enough evidence to indict them. Both Wylie and Walters will be arraigned separately before a grand jury on the Class B felony animal cruelty charge.

 (Photo courtesy of Steve Drozell, Foster's Daily Democrat) Wylie has been banned from contact wtih animals, Walters and former boyfriend (Dewey's owner) as part o fher bail conditions. Walters received similar bail conditions last week. If Wylie violates any condition she will have to pay $10,000 personal recognizance bail to get out of jail.

(Photos courtesy of the Portsmouth Herald)

Update July 24, 2004:  Jean Slepian, an animal-rights activist from Stoddard, has scheduled a "Justice for Dewey" demonstration for Aug. 4. The event will take place outside the Rockingham County Superior Courthouse in Brentwood from 8 to 11 a.m.

The public is welcome to attend, Slepian said.

Both women have pleaded not guilty to the charges, and their cases are scheduled to be heard by a Rockingham County grand jury.

In Maine, both Walters and Wylie face still other charges in connection with the alleged crime. There, they will be arraigned in York District Court on July 29.

Slepian planned the "Justice for Dewey" rally to raise public awareness about animal-abuse crimes and to register public outrage with prosecutors.

Update August 9, 2004:  Maine prosecutors have put more bite into their cases against the two Seacoast women, adding felony conspiracy and theft charges against the defendants.

Update September 16, 2004:  A York County grand jury has indicted the two Seacoast women accused of stealing and drowning a pet dachshund last May.

The grand jury on Sept. 10 handed up identical Class B felony burglary, Class D misdemeanor theft by unauthorized taking and Class D misdemeanor cruelty to animals indictments against Shannon C. Walters, 34, of 5 Nichols Ave., Newmarket, N.H., and Erin M. Wylie, 27, of 50 Harvard St., Portsmouth, N.H.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt but rather a jury's determination that enough evidence exists to bring the case to trial.

If convicted in Maine, both women could face a maximum prison sentence of 17 years in prison. Prosecuting the case in York County Superior Court will be Assistant District Attorney Jeff Moskowitz, according to York County District Attorney Mark Lawrence.

Attorney Phil Desfosses of Portsmouth represents Walters; Wylie has hired Saco, Maine, lawyer Ron Caron.

Walters and Wylie were both indicted in connection with the case in New Hampshire earlier this year.

In the Granite State, a Rockingham County grand jury indicted each defendant on one Class A felony of theft by receiving stolen property, one Class A and one Class B felony count of conspiracy, and two Class B felony counts of cruelty to animals.

If convicted of those charges, each woman could face a maximum penalty of 51 years in prison.

Wylie’s New Hampshire trial has been set for Feb. 28, 2005. Walters will go to trial on March 14, 2005, according to a Rockingham County Superior Court clerk.

Update November 14, 2004:  One of two women accused of drowning a dog in a bathtub in what was supposed to be a "mercy killing" has pleaded not guilty to charges of animal cruelty.

Shannon Walters, 34, of Newmarket is charged with animal cruelty in the death of Dewey, a miniature dachshund owned by her friend's former boyfriend. She was arraigned Wednesday in York County Superior Court in Alfred, Maine.

Walters' codefendant, Erin M. Wylie, 27, of Portsmouth pleaded not guilty on Oct. 28. Wylie was indicted last summer by a York County grand jury on counts of burglary, conspiracy, and the ft.

The women are accused of putting a wool sock over the dog's head and carrying it to Wylie's apartment in a garment bag. Both were indicted in New Hampshire and Maine but waived their right to arraignment in New Hampshire.

Wylie's case will go to trial in Rockingham County Superior Court in Brentwood on Feb. 28. Walters' trial is scheduled for March 14, according to the county attorney's office.

A Portsmouth District Court judge found probable cause in Walters' New Hampshire case in July after prosecutors argued that putting a sock over the dog's face, stuffing it in a bag and later drowning it constituted torture.

Portsmouth lawyer Phil Desfosses argued during a hearing that if Walters held the dog under water, it was to end the dogs suffering.

Desfosses based his argument on police testimony that indicated the dog already was in "poor condition" before the drowning.

The dog, along with some electronic equipment, had been taken from Wylie's ex-boyfriend's apartment in what was staged as a burglary.

Police have said Walters had a limited role during the break-in, serving primarily as "lookout" and watching Wylie collect various items, including the dog.

Update October 29, 2004: Erin M. Wylie, 27, of 50 Harvard St., entered a plea of not guilty before York County Superior Court Judge Arthur Brennan. She is now waiting a trial date and is free on $1,000 bail.

Wylie was indicted last month by a York County grand jury on a Class B felony charge of burglary and Class D misdemeanor charges of theft by unauthorized taking and cruelty to animals.

Walters was also indicted in the case and faces identical charges in Maine. Her arraignment is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 10 in York County Superior Court.

Both defendants also face charges in Rockingham County Superior Court in New Hampshire in connection with the case.

Wylie declined to comment after her court hearing Thursday. Her attorney, Ron Caron, of Saco, also declined to comment.

Update December 14, 2004:  In his latest effort to protect his client, Phil Desfossess, a defense attorney representing Walters has filed a motion to suppress evidence in the case.

Walters, along with Erin M. Wylie, 27, of 50 Harvard St., Portsmouth, has been charged with theft and cruelty to animals in New Hampshire and Maine.

The two women were initially arrested by Kittery police and charged with felony counts of receiving stolen property. The dog along with electronic equipment had been stolen by the two women from the Eliot, Maine apartment of Wylie’s former boyfriend.

Newmarket police had received a tip concerning an e-mail conversation between the two women in which they were discussing what to do with the dog’s body.

Desfosses claims the e-mails were intercepted illegally.

He also moved to suppress all evidence derived from questioning by Kittery Police Officer Jeff Shisler. Desfosses claimed Shisler questioned Walter’s without informing her of her Miranda rights.

According to Newmarket Police Chief Rodney Collins, the informant told Newmarket police officer Wayne Stevens that one of the women had been keeping the dog’s remains in a toolbox in the back of her truck, and that the two had arranged to meet at the Dairy Queen at the Kittery Traffic Circle at 10 p.m. to determine where to dispose of the dog’s body.

After being contacted by Newmarket police, Kittery police went to the Dairy Queen and arrested Walters after finding the dog in the toolbox in the rear of her blue Chevrolet pickup truck.

In June, Desfosses argued unsuccessfully in Portsmouth District Court that the charges against Walters should be reduced to a misdemeanor.

Desfossess said that if Walters did in fact hold the dog under water as is alleged, it would have simply been to end the dog’s suffering.

Desfosses based his argument on the testimony of Portsmouth Police Patrolman Darrin Sargent. Sargent testified on the witness stand that Walters said the dog had already been in "poor condition" prior to the drowning.

During an interview following Walters’ arrest, Sargent said Walters explained a wool sock had been placed over the dog’s head before it was transported to Wylie’s Portsmouth apartment.

Sargent said Walters, who claimed to have once worked as a veterinary technician, told him it didn’t take long for Dewey to expire, as he was already near death.

References:

The Portsmouth Herald	Foster’s Daily Democrat
WMUR Channel 9 TV	The Associated Press
The Boston Herald	The Smoking Gun
Another Chance Animal Rescue	The Portsmouth Herald