Rest Easy, Little Dog. They Finally Caught Your Killer

April 13, 2001 Santa Clara, California, USA

How much do you want to bet that this guy doesn't live to see his court date?

In what has probably been the most publicized case of road-rage since the invention of the road, last year's February fender-bender turned into a national  manhunt, after the unidentified driver of a black truck reached into the second car, grabbed Leo, a 5-pound dog, and threw him across 3 lanes of traffic.

Leo was struck by a car and died on the way to the emergency vet.

In the months that followed, both the sympathetic and the furious people of North America flooded Leo's owner, Sara McBurnett, with support and consolation.  A reward fund had accumulated to the size of $121,000 (USD) as of last month.

Last night, police charged 27-year-old Andrew Burnett with felony animal abuse in the death of Leo, punishable in the state of California with up to three years in prison. The arraignment will take place on Friday in Santa Clara superior court.

Andrew Burnett was already being held in police custody for an unrelated crime.

Extensive details are available on Leo's website, started last year in an effort to broadcast the story and find the killer.  As of this morning, the site has been visited 131,090 times.

UPDATE: Road Rage Dog-Killer On Trial
(April 22, 2001)

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