Frederick Martin, IV

Tied a dog to a tree with a chain, cut her to pieces with a weed whacker

Lakeland, FL

Aug. 14, 1997

Frederick Martin, IV

Stabbed a sheep and slashed four pigs

Ossipee, NH

1997

Janet & Frederick Martin, III

Fled to Florida with their son Frederick, IV to avoid the sons having to stand trail for animal abuse

Ossipee, NH

1997

At age 13, in Florida, Frederick Martin, IV along with David Clark Elliot (age 11) tied Zoey, a neighbor's dog to a tree branch with a chain around her neck, slashing Zoey’s throat, severing her paws and tail with a weed whacker.  (See casefile Tied a dog to a tree, cut her up with a weed whacker)

While living in New Hampshire, Frederick stabbed a sheep and slashed four pigs. He and his parents Janet and Frederick, III, fled to Florida to escape prosecution for these acts of torture. The parents are also wanted on contempt of court charged for fleeing and avoiding trial in New Hampshire.

Martin went to court in the Lakeland Florida case, expecting to testify how his 11-year-old friend forced him to mutilate a neighbor’s small dog with a weed whacker.  Instead Martin found himself squirming from discovery that Martin had a history of animal cruelty charges in New Hampshire.

A Florida judge ordered a psychological evaluation for the 13-year-old after ruling that he was incompetent to stand trial. The parents were charged with contempt of court again after the Florida authorities learned about the previous animal abuse charges against their son in NH.

High-profile defense attorney Jack Edmund represented Martin, IV for free after the case against his co-defendant (David Clark Eliot) was reduced to misdemeanor charges in exchange for no-contest pleas (September 1997)

The Florida State Attorney, Jerry Hill and the New Hampshire Attorney General, Philip T. McLaughlin are handling these cases.

Janet and Frederick Martin, III have outstanding contempt charges for failing to bring their son to trial in New Hampshire, but the Florida Judge stated because the warrants are valid only in New Hampshire, Florida authorities cannot arrest the couple on those charges (September 1997)

Reference:

The Boston Globe

The Tampa Tribune