Woman accused of setting dog on fire to go free
ST. LOUIS - A woman accused of setting a dog on fire has had charges against her dropped after problems arose with a witness, reports CBS St. Louis.
The St. Louis Circuit Attorney on Monday dropped the two felony counts of animal abuse against 37-year-old Adrienne Martin, who was accused of setting a terrier mix named Brownie on fire in July 2013. The dog's burns were so bad, he had to be euthanized.
Authorities say that after Martin was arrested, she told police the dog - who belonged to a relative of hers - had bitten her son the day before the incident.
Martin's attorney, Philip Dennis, tells CBS St. Louis the prosecutor dropped the charges because a witness to the alleged brutality was found to have credibility issues, but Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce says that's incorrect.
Instead, she says, prosecutors "lost the witness' cooperation."
Joyce says the charges against Martin could be refiled if a witness comes forward.