SEVERN, Md. (WMAR) — Anne Arundel County Police arrested a Severn man accused of fighting and torturing dogs.
Back in March, Narcotics & Special Investigations detectives got a tip regarding animal cruelty and dog fighting activity on the 1800 block of Arwell Court in Severn.
Police found an Instagram account linked to 23-year-old Kyle Murray that showed multiple pictures and videos of three pit bull type dogs.
Some photos showed a dog wearing heavy chains and padlocks around its neck, and running in the snow while pulling a large weight. Investigators also discovered a video showing a small pit bull attacking and mauling a small white dog.
According to charging documents, after viewing the video, undercover detectives texted Murray to arrange a dog fight. During the exchange, Murray told detectives that the pit bull in the video ended up killing the white dog after about a half hour. Murray said the pit bull was 4-months-old at the time of the video and is now 6-months-old.
When asked if he had any available dogs to fight, Murray told detectives about a 3-year-old pit bull that he was interested in "seeing what he could do". The detectives and Murray then texted each other about the dog's "chain weight", which detectives describe as the weight of a dog without having gone through conditioning and training for a fight.
Murray then mentioned the puppy in the video's, texting detectives, "I'm all stuck on trying to see wat da female do".
On April 9, detectives executed a search warrant for Murray's residence.
Officials say Murray and the pit bull in the mauling video were home. Animal Control responded and took custody of the dog. The 3-year-old dog was found and left at a neighbors home.
After agreeing to speak with detectives, Murray admitted to recording the mauling. He told investigators that the white dog who was attacked, was a stray brought home by his step-kids. Murray said he used the video in an attempt to drive up the cost of the pit bull. Court documents also show that Murray confessed to making up the pedigree of the animal to convince potential buyers that it was a fighting dog.
Murray is now charged with six different offenses, including counts of intentionally torturing an animal, inflicting unnecessary suffering or pain, arranging for a dog to be used in a fight, and possessing a dog with intent to use for baiting.
