Man killed ex-wife’s dog, demanded new husband ‘return his wife to him’ or he would murder her new family: Sheriff

Delmin Echeverria (Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office)

A 43-year-old man in Florida was arrested for allegedly driving to his ex-wife’s home, slitting her dog’s throat, then calling her new family to confess to the crime and ordering them to “return his wife to him” or they would be next. Delmin Echeverria was taken into custody last month and charged with one count each of cruelty to animals, burglary to a dwelling while armed, and criminal mischief, authorities announced.

According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by Law&Crime, officers with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office at about 6:36 p.m. on Sept. 22 responded to a call about a dog being found deceased at a home located in the 13000 block of 41st Lane North. The caller, a 20-year-old male, told the emergency dispatcher that he believed his stepmother’s ex-husband was responsible for killing the animal.

Upon arriving at the scene, first responders found the animal in the home’s fenced-in backyard about 20 feet away from the house. The dog was a 3-year-old pit bull named “Luna.”

“Upon inspecting the victim’s dog [deputies] found it had an injury on the bottom of the neck that was bleeding and the dog was deceased but still warm,” police wrote in the affidavit. “[Detectives] found that she had a circular shaped cut/puncture wound under her left jaw area, and that there was blood coming from the wound.”

Deputies spoke to the 20-year-old’s father who also stated that he believed his wife’s ex-husband was responsible for killing the dog. He identified the ex-husband as Echeverria, who he said had “called both of them from a blocked number and stated that he killed the dog.”