The Brief
Donnell Smith, the longtime partner of a Cocoa woman killed in a horrific neighborhood dog mauling last month, has bonded out of jail following his arrest on separate animal cruelty charges.
Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey reported that Smith abandoned three dogs left in his sole custody inside a trailer without food or water following his partner’s death.
Smith posted a $15,000 bond on Monday night, canceling his scheduled Tuesday morning first appearance as the felony investigation moves forward.
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – The longtime partner of a Florida woman who was mauled to death by two neighborhood dogs was released on bond following animal neglect charges in a separate investigation.
Donnell Smith, 47, who was set to make his first appearance before a judge on June 16, was released on bond prior to his initial scheduled hearing. His bond was set at $15,000.
The backstory
Donnell Smith was the longtime partner of Cocoa woman Jodi Cowan, who was killed on May 19 by two neighborhood dogs.
Less than a month after Cowan’s death, Smith was arrested on Monday, June 15, after being accused of locking three dogs inside his residence to die.
Jodi Cowan, 50, was killed after two dogs attacked her in a neighborhood, deputies say.
Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey reported the dogs were left inside a trailer without access to food or water. After Cowan’s death, the dogs were left in Smith’s sole custody, the sheriff’s office said.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Smith was taken into custody for animal cruelty, confinement of an animal without food or water and abandonment.
The Source
Information in this story was gathered from Brevard County courts.