We are a step closer to justice for Duke, the poodle that was burned alive in Henderson. Last night, officers with the Henderson Police Department arrested 32 -year-old Bryan K. Matthews Jr. in the 2700 block of Zion Road. Matthews has been charged with torturing a dog with serious injury or death and 3rd Degree arson. Police don’t know what the motive was. Duke���s owner, Gina Howard, doesn’t know the accused killer.

Bryan K. Melton Jr. Henderson Co KY Jail
Bryan K. Melton Jr. Henderson Co KY Jail
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A reward of more than $16,000 had been raised to help find Duke the dog’s killer. The Humane Society of Henderson County intends to start Duke’s Justice Foundation, which will be a reward fund made available for national cases of animal torture.

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It disgusts me to even have to tell you about this story, but we need your help to solve this crime. Imagine your family dog has gone missing. You notify the local humane society, just in case someone picks him up. You put the word out on social media, hoping that someone has seen your little puffball doggie.

That's what happened to Gina Howard of Henderson, KY. Then she got the call that had to be nothing short of devastating. Animal Control and the Henderson Police Department are investigating her dog, Duke's, disappearance as a crime. A crime so awful that again, I hate to even write about.

Sunday, June 7, 2020 at 12:07 P.M. officers with Animal Control and HPD identified a miniature poodle that had been BURNED ALIVE in the men's restroom at Sam Ball Way Fairgrounds. Now, let that sink in for a minute. Someone took this helpless miniature poodle, and set him on fire, then let him die. Wow. There are many studies about the psychology of why people abuse and kill animals, but it's too difficult to wrap my head around.

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