Police accuse Robert Steimling, 49, of beating his dog to death on November 22nd.
Investigators were called to the 200 block of Birch Lane in the Glasgow Pines Mobile Home Park in Newark. A neighbor reported seeing Steimling repeatedly hit the dog, a German Shephard mix, pour something down the dog's throat and when the dog stopped moving Steimling wrapped the dog in a blanket and put it ina trash can that was put out along the street.
Police interviewed Steimling that night who said "I put it out of its misery, I was gentle," according to the police report. When asked why Steimling killed the dog, she said, "we don't have the money for a vet."
A necropsy by veterinarians showed the dog died from head trauma. Investigators weren't able to determine what the dog ingested.
A department of corrections spokesperson tells Action News Steimling was released from custody Thursday.
Steimling is due for a preliminary hearing later this month.
