FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A Broward County man who stabbed a pit bull puppy more than 50 times before stuffing it in a suitcase was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison.
Brendan Evans, 35, of Hollywood, accepted a plea deal earlier this week and pleaded guilty to two counts of animal abuse while violating probation.
Investigators say back in October 2017, Evans admitted to stabbing Ollie the pit bull more than 50 times and leaving the dog inside a suitcase in Hollywood.
The dog was rushed to an animal clinic by a good Samaritan, but died two days later.
“That’s big news for us you know we waited for that we watched for it. But I still feel he didn’t get enough time somebody should’ve done to him what he did to the animal, " said Irene Manos, a neighbor.
The attack caused an international outcry. Evans first denied being involved, but investigators from the Hollywood Police Department solved the case with the help of DNA evidence found on the suitcase.
Hollywood detectives also found rats with their scalps removed, cat paws and blood in Evans’ refrigerator. There was also an eight-pointed star on a kitchen wall and a shrine with candles for the “Duke of Hell.” He also had a Crime Stoppers’ flyer showing a picture of Ollie ripped in two, authorities said.
After Friday morning’s hearing, Evans’ lawyer told Local 10 News that his client suffers from mental illness and he requested he be put in a facility with specific mental health resources, but that request may or may not be granted.
“He was answering to external stimuli that were telling him that if he didn’t commit this sacrifice then his life was in danger,” attorney Michael Gottlieb said. “We have an individual with mental illness who is lost in the prison system.”
Meanwhile, animal rights groups and individuals wrote numerous letters to the judge asking that Evans be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law for his horrible crime.
“It upset everybody we love animals here we take care of all the animals on the street,” said Manos.
Evans has been held in jail since his arrest four years ago. He was initially charged with 17 counts of animal cruelty but prosecutors dropped 15 in exchange for the guilty plea.