A Fort Myers man faces serious charges after abandoning two dogs in the July heat, resulting in both dogs’ deaths. Sheriff Carmine Marceno described the incident as ‘heartbreaking’ and ‘unexplainable.’
“I will tell you that this is disgusting, this behavior is disgusting,” said Sheriff Marceno.
On July 11, Lee County deputies responded to a home on the 5500 block of 7th Avenue in Pine Manor. They found two bulldogs, Chloe and Princess, left in cages without food or water. Body-camera footage and pictures showed the conditions the two endured, from being outside with temperatures in the 90s to their cages covered in urine, feces and standing brown water.
The 1-year-old puppy Chloe had died from heat stress and stroke. While 6-year-old Princess, despite initial recovery, had to be euthanized due to her injuries, according to the sheriff’s office.
Neighbors told WINK News reporter Camila Pereira that it was shocking to hear this had happened on their block, and by a fellow neighbor.
“It’s surprising, really surprising, because how have we become human beings without a heart?” asked Julissa Rodriguez, a neighbor and animal lover.
The neighbor in question is 33-year-old Jerry Speed III. The sheriff’s office said he had reportedly moved out two weeks earlier, leaving the animals behind.
Sheriff Marceno said Speed’s warrant was served while he was in the Lee County Jail for a probation violation.
“He’s no stranger to our jail,” said Sheriff Marceno. “Pages of arrests, pages of criminal history, convicted felon, everything from fleeing and eluding, drugs, guns by a convicted felon. So he’s no stranger to the law.”
Speed, who was released from prison in October 2024 after serving six and a half years for fleeing law enforcement in Lee County, remains in custody and now faces charges of aggravated cruelty and animal abandonment.
“I will never allow anyone to abuse an animal, and we have to stand for those that can’t protect themselves and have no voice,” said Marceno. “So, we will charge them to the fullest extent of the law, and I will work with our great state attorney to ensure, to the very end, to make sure they’re prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Again, this is heartless, and it’s just It sickens me.”
Speed is set to appear in court on November 10 for his arraignment.