James Stewart Robinson. Source: Jefferson County Sheriff's Office
Rufus, the dog that was allegedly killed while his owners fought over his custody in their divorce. Source: WBRC videoJEFFERSON COUNTY, AL (WBRC) -
The man accused of slitting his dog's throat in a custody battle for the pet surrendered to Jefferson County Sheriff's deputies Monday night.
James Stewart Robinson, from Vestavia, was wanted on an animal cruelty charge for allegedly killing Rufus, an American Staffordshire terrier. Robinson and his wife were fighting for custody of their pet Rufus during an ongoing divorce proceeding.
The investigation into the case began in June. Jefferson County Chief Deputy Randy Christian said forensic analysis results, plus electronic data recovered from emails, texts and voice mails, indicated that Robinson killed the dog. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the University of Florida Animal Forensics Laboratory assisted in the case.
An animal cruelty investigator with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office obtained a felony warrant for James Stewart Robinson's arrest for cruelty to a dog last week. Robinson was at large for several days, believed to be in Georgia at one point, until he turned himself in to the Jefferson County Jail around 11 p.m. Monday, Nov. 26.
Robinson is charged with cruelty to a dog and is being held on a $40,000 bond.
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