More than a week before dropping his mother's beloved dog Gemini out of their fifth floor apartment to her death, Alan Decosta told his mother that he was going to decapitate the friendly 10-year-old pit bull mix. Decosta, 35, had been living in his mother's Crown Heights, N.Y. apartment since his wife left him over three years ago. His 52-year-old mother, Sonia Reyes, says
that after moving in, he spent most of his time smoking marijuana and beat her on numerous occasions. On the morning of Wednesday, November 9th, jealous of his mother's love for Gemini, he bashed his mother on the head and back with a vacuum cleaner, then threw the 40-pound dog from the window of their fifth floor apartment. Mrs. Reyes rushed downstairs, and Gemini died in the street, cradled in the arms of her loving guardian.
After Gemini's death, Mrs. Reyes said of her son, "I wish they lock him up and throw away the key." Police arrested Decosta and charged him with assaulting his mother. In addition, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is expected to bring animal cruelty charges against him for Gemini's death.
What You Can Do:
Click
http://ga0.org/ct/idSf2D71bX9A/ to politely urge the Brooklyn District Attorney's office to charge Decosta with aggravated cruelty to animals, which is a felony under New York State law and carries a penalty of up to two years in prison.
Animal advocates must let the D.A.'s office know that Decosta deserves to be punished to the full extent of the law for the premeditated and sadistic manner in which he took the life of a gentle and innocent animal. You can also contact the D.A.'s office by phone, fax, email or postal mail.
Carol Moran
Deputy District Attorney
350 Jay Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Tel: (718) 250-2235
Fax: (718) 250-2432
Email:
moranc@brooklynda.org