INDIANAPolis — Four Indianapolis residents implicated in the 2022 death of a dog named Deron they had previously adopted from a local shelter have received their sentences. The case, which concluded with the final sentencing this year, has sparked a broader debate on the severity of penalties for animal abuse.
Clifford Massey was the last to be sentenced on June 20, receiving a two-year term, one year of which was suspended. Massey’s sentence also includes a year under house arrest monitored by authorities, and subsequent probation which could potentially be dismissed upon successful completion of his house arrest and a mental health evaluation. Additionally, he was ordered to pay $849 in restitution fees.
Zech Thomsen, sentenced on May 31, faces a two-and-a-half-year prison term for his involvement. Thomsen’s sentence for the cruelty against Deron will be served consecutively after completing a 27-year sentence for an unrelated murder in 2022.
Sierra Makin, who was sentenced earlier in January, will spend three years under various forms of custody, including a year in Marion County Community Corrections. Makin is also mandated to take anger management classes following her charges.
Denita Hughes, the fourth participant, was sentenced on Sept. 7 to 304 days of probation and a $100 fine, marking the lightest sentence among the four.
The grim tale began when these individuals adopted Deron from Indianapolis Animal Care Services on July 28, 2022. Just nine days later, police were dispatched following reports of a dog having been hanged by its leash and being fatally stabbed multiple times on the 700 block of Bosart Avenue.
Court records revealed a disturbing scene where Thomsen reportedly hanged Deron from the porch and proceeded to stab him. Witnesses told investigators that Makin and others watched the gruesome act without intervening.
In a particularly chilling account supported by doorbell footage, one of the suspects was recorded soliciting a knife before threatening to “beat the brain out” of Deron. About 20 minutes after the torture was inflicted, the suspects were seen disposing of Deron’s body in a trash can along with a blood-stained knife.
The case took a violent turn when police intervened, with Makin and Thomsen resisting arrest and assaulting the officers. Makin was reported to have struck an officer, drawing blood, and Thomsen attempted to prevent the arrest, subsequently striking another officer.
Public reaction to the case has been one of outrage and disbelief, leading to calls for more stringent laws against animal cruelty. The response has fueled legislative proposals aimed at tightening penalties for such actions, although previous attempts have been stymied in committee debates.
This tragic event has highlighted ongoing concerns regarding the screening processes involved in pet adoptions. While most animal shelters in Indiana do not require background checks for potential adopters, there has been growing advocacy from within the community for the state to mandate such checks to prevent animals from falling into the hands of abusers.
The Deron case serves not only as a catalyst for potential change in legislation but also as a somber reminder of the responsibilities involved in animal care and the consequences of neglect and cruelty. As the legal outcomes ripple through the community, many hope for positive changes that will create safer environments for pets like Deron.