Police in Georgia have identified an animal cruelty suspect after two dogs were found strangled to death in a parking garage last year.
According to authorities, a man walking a pair of dogs was caught on security cameras entering a parking garage near 16th St. NW in Atlanta, Georgia, in July 2025. Around 20 minutes later, he was seen leaving the area without the pets.
The manager of the garage, Darell Moss, later found the two dogs dead inside the building with their leashes tied together. Other evidence pertaining to their deaths and prior abuse was deemed too graphic to report.
In an interview with WSB-TV 2, Moss explained that he first became aware of the situation when he noticed a disturbing smell in the garage. He later identified the odor as coming from the body of a dog.
Necropsies determined the dogs — a brindle and white female, who was approximately 1 year old, and a tan and white male, who was around 3 years old — died via strangulation.
The suspect was described by authorities as a Black man with a white goatee and tattoo sleeves on both of his arms. He was wearing a white t-shirt, jeans, sunglasses and a black backpack at the time of the alleged crime. His height was reportedly between 5’6” and 5’9”.
At the time, Captain Nicole Dwyer with Fulton County Police Department’s Animal Services Unit said she was hoping that somebody local would be able to “recognize him” by the description and alert police.
“This is a pretty sickening crime, and we want to get him into custody, so he doesn’t commit this again, or, you know, escalate to a human,” added Dwyer. “This is a very disturbed individual and a danger to the public.”
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On Friday, January 30, it was reported that police had finally identified the suspect.
“We want to thank our community for sharing the BOLO, calling in tips, and going above and beyond in assisting us with getting justice for these innocent dogs,” the Atlanta Police Department said in a statement. “We will provide additional details when available.”
The suspect’s name was not released to the public. It is unclear if he has been taken into custody or charged.
According to Georgia law, animal cruelty is defined as someone who “causes physical pain, suffering, or death to an animal by any unjustifiable act or omission” or if an owner “fails to provide to such animal adequate food, water, sanitary conditions, or ventilation” needed to survive. (This does not include fish or “any pest that might be exterminated or removed from a business, residence, or other structure.”)
Animal cruelty is generally considered a misdemeanor. However, the charge of “aggravated cruelty to animals” is considered a felony punishable by “not less than one nor more than five years” behind bars and up to $15,000.
If you know of or suspect animal abuse or neglect, you are urged to contact the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals through their website or call your local animal control officer.
