Daughter Tells Police Mom Killed Family Pet

Tuesday, July 14, 2009 6:14 PM

Updated: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 7:19 PM

BUCKEYE LAKE, Ohio — A woman was in custody Tuesday after her teenager daughter told police that she came home drunk last week and beat the family pet to death.

Retta McKibben has pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge of animal cruelty in connection with the case, 10TV's Glenn McEntyre reported.

According to a police report filed by McKibben's 14-year-old daughter, the family's dog, a 6-pound Chihuahua named Zoie, was killed last Tuesday.

SLIDESHOW: Images From Report (Some viewers may find images disturbing)

The report said McKibben, 39, came home drunk, picked the dog up by the neck, and slammed it repeatedly to the ground, McEntyre reported.

Police said the dog's body was found wrapped in a sheet near the trash at the end of a driveway. An examination revealed the dog's skull had been crushed and its neck broken.

"Just the viciousness of it and the death the dog went through, it's just sometimes hard to comprehend that someone could do that to a little 6-pound Chihuahua," said Buckeye Lake police Capt. James Hanzey.

McKibben was ordered held on $5,000 bond.

She remained at the Licking County Jail on Tuesday evening.