After woman allegedly breaks puppy’s neck
A reported domestic assault has reportedly led to a felony animal cruelty charge for a Muldrow woman after she allegedly broke a puppy’s neck.
Serena R. Murdock, 26, was charged on April 3 in Sequoyah County District Court and received a $10,000 bond. She is now scheduled for a May 29 felony disposition docket with Associate District Judge Kyle Waters, according to court records.
Muldrow Police officer Nick Yoakum said he was dispatched to a domestic in progress on March 25 at a lo-cal apartment complex where he met with a man who had blood on his face, trying to catch a lose dog.
Officer Richard Mathews went to speak with Murdock, where he found a window busted out and blood on the window.
The man came upstairs to the apartment after police reported finding the door locked. The man said he and Murdock were arguing and after some questioning, he began kicking in the door, giving the officers access to the apartment. After going back out to his police unit, Yoakum said he heard the man yelling and screaming and ran upstairs to find him holding a dead puppy with what appeared to be a broken neck, according to the affidavit filed in the case.
Murdock was then taken from the apartment and EMS was called to check an injury on her finger. Murdock alleged the two were arguing and that the man had struck her on the chin, and then threw a cell phone at her. She said the man then locked her out of the residence, so she punched the window in an attempt to get back inside, according to the affidavit. She claimed she then blacked out and couldn’t remember anything that happened afterwards, and that she hadn’t intentionally hurt the puppy.
Murdock was taken into custody and transported to the Sequoyah County Detention Center where she was booked in on the cruelty to animal charge and a criminal misdemeanor charge of domestic abuse-assault and battery. District Attorney Jack Thorp said the animal cruelty charge is punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 or imprisonment for up to five years, or both.
