UTICA, Mich. (WWJ) -- Crime Stoppers and the Michigan Humane Society are teaming up to help bring justice to a dog who was found tortured, abused and killed in a Metro Detroit park last week.
Without disclosing details of the abuse, officials say Sterling, a three-year-old pit bull mix, was found dead in Grant Park on Thursday, Jan. 24.
A Humane Society spokesperson says Sterling had been adopted and returned to the shelter twice, before he was adopted for a third time in late December.
"Every time, he returned a wonderful dog, very friendly, very kind" Elise Ramsey of the MHS told WWJ. "It definitely effected a lot of people in our agency to see this outcome."
Cash rewards of up to $3,500 are being offered for anyone who can provide tips that lead to justice for Sterling. Crime Stoppers is offering $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest, while the Humane Society is offering $2,500 for an arrest and a conviction.
Utica Police Detective Sergeant Greg Morabito tells WWJ authorities believe the dog was taken from the owner's home outside Utica and brought to Grant Park where it was fatally wounded. While authorities have a theory and a suspect in mind, they're asking for the public's help to solve the crime
"We're hoping that somebody saw something, somebody heard something," Morabito said. "Maybe somebody knows something that would help us catch the perpetrator in this kind of heinous act, very inhumane act."
Morabito says there was enough evidence to indicate that Sterling had been killed at the park.
Some Facebook users replied to the Humane Society's post regarding Sterling, urging them to look into the dog's owner, but MHS replied that the owner had been ruled out as a suspect in the case.
Tips can be reported anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAKUP or on the Crime Stoppers webisite. Tips can also be given to the Utica PD at (586) 731-2345 or the MHS at (313) 872-3401.
All tipsters will remain anonymous.
