By Amy Batista, Special Writer
A borough woman was arrested last week for allegedly killing her family’s nine-year-old dog with a shovel and claw hammer after allegedly failing to poison the dog, according to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.
Michelle Wankoff, 19, was charged with two accounts of animal cruelty, tampering with evidence, and two accounts of possession of weapons for unlawful purpose, according to the prosecutor’s office.
Resident Phyllis Deal said it is a very sad situation.
“My heart cries for the suffering of the dog,” Ms. Deal said.
According to the prosecutor’s office, the charges are the result of a joint investigation by the Hightstown Police Department and the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NJSPCA) Humane Police. Hightstown police notified the NJSPCA police after receiving a tip that Ms. Wankoff had allegedly bragged about killing and burying the dog.
“We have nothing to add to release at this time,” NJSPCA spokesperson Matt Stanton on Tuesday.
On or about July 21, Ms. Wankoff allegedly attempted to poison the family’s mixed breed dog named “Chuck” with various medications. When that failed, she allegedly hit the dog repeatedly on the head with a shovel and claw hammer until he died, according to the prosecutor’s office.
She allegedly stored the dog’s body in a small refrigerator in her bedroom for a few days and then allegedly buried the dog in a shallow grave, according to the prosecutor’s office.
The Hightstown and NJSPCA police discovered the grave in the woods near her home on July 25, according to prosecutor’s office.
State examiners will conduct a necropsy to determine the manner of death of the dog, prosecutors said.
Tyler Phernamucq, 19, of Hamilton, a friend of Ms. Wankoff’s, was issued a summons for allegedly tampering with evidence and allegedly assisting her with burying the dog, prosecutors said.
Ms. Wankoff’s bail was set at $25,000, prosecutors said.
