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NOVEMBER 2013
Walnut Creek Dog Stabbing
Update: September 2013
Todd Hiram Powers of Walnut Creek, California, is charged with felony cruelty to an animal. Powers has admitted killing the 10 month old German Shepherd named Seven.
On April 21, 2012 Powers stabbed Seven with a hunting knife. Seven was registered and had an I. D. number tattooed in his ear. Powers cut off Seven’s ear so that the body could not be traced back to him. Powers then placed Seven’s body in a black plastic bag and dumped the body in a garbage can for disposal.
Three days later, when Animal Control Officer Paul Madsen responded to a report of a dog stabbing, Todd Powers’ mother, Karen, was the only adult at the scene with three young children, all under six years of age. Todd’s mother at first denied any knowledge of where Seven was, or what had happened to him. There was a strong smell of rotting flesh coming from the side of the house and a garbage container with maggots moving around the rim.
When Animal Control Officer Madsen opened the lid of the garbage container he saw a large black garbage bag with newly formed maggots on top, the contents smelled like rotting flesh. At that point Powers’ mother broke down and admitted knowledge of the stabbing, stating she was just told that evening by her son that he had stabbed and killed their family dog. Karen said her son and daughter-in-law were under a lot of stress having financial and marital problems. She said she is extremely worried because she had not seen or heard from her daughter-in-law. She said Todd was in a very emotional state and she believes he may be suicidal.
Later when questioned by Officer Madsen and presented with overwhelming evidence, Todd Powers broke down and began sniveling, not because of what he had done, but because he got caught. Powers began to justify killing Seven. He said Seven had killed some chickens and had been sniffing at their children. Powers claimed Seven had bit his wife.
When someone has chickens, they have a responsibility to protect them from foxes, coyotes, raccoons and dogs. Dogs do sniff people including children. Powers’ ex-wife said “On one occasion, while trying to get to the chickens, Seven lunged at me, but did not bite me. I disciplined him and it did not happen again.”
Powers’ wife said “Todd and I agreed that we would give Seven to another family. Todd refused to speak with Anne from AdlerStein’s, Seven’s breeder. I called her and she agreed to check to see if any of her waiting clients would like an older puppy. Todd received 2 or 3 interested calls from a man named Curtis. Todd refused to schedule a time for Curtis to come see Seven, insisting that he should put Seven down instead.”
Seven was 10 months old when he was intentionally mutilated, tortured and killed by a sadistic master. Seven was not full grown and still very much a puppy. For 7 months Seven was anxious and fearful, constantly anticipating his master’s punishment. Any animal, including you and me, under the same conditions, would be acting up.
The criminal case is The People of the State of California vs. Todd Hiram Powers- Defendant. The defense attorney will blame the victim. It’s that simple. There is no credible defense. The victim’s attorney and our attorney, The People of the State of California, is Contra Costa County District Attorney Mark Peterson.
I have reason to believe that some of Powers’ friends, with the same mind set of what it is to be a manly man, will be in court to show support for Powers. I also have reason to believe that a spokesman for God will be in court, the Pastor of Powers’ church.
Todd Powers’ next court date for killing Seven is Friday Sept. 27, 2013 at 8:30 a.m. in Courtroom 18, Martinez Superior Court, 1020 Ward Street, Martinez, Contra Costa County. Please be there to show support for the victim.
Also, please contact District Attorney Mark Peterson in writing, via email and/or fax.
Please tell Mark Peterson that the hunting knives that Powers used to stab and cut off the ear of the victim, is a deadly weapon and that the charge of use of a deadly weapon must be added to the charge of felony cruelty to an animal.
Address: 900 Ward Street, Martinez, CA 94553
Email: [email protected]
Fax: 925.464.4683
Be sure to add the defendant’s name,
Todd Powers, & case 1-162308-1.
State that you want your comments attached to the probation report.
UPDATE:
Court date has been changed to September 27, 2013 at 8:30 am.
April 2012 to Present
Voices for Pets received a phone call In November 2012 from out of the state of Virginia. The caller said that Todd Powers of Walnut Creek, California had stabbed and killed the family dog, a 10 month old German Shepherd named Seven, with a hunting knife, then put the dog's body in a garbage can. The caller also said Powers had previously killed the family cat named Cricket. The caller was concerned for the safety of Todd's wife and their three children, all under six years of age.
At the time of Seven's killing in April 2012, both Walnut Creek police and animal control were notified, yet, 7 months later in November 2012, there had been no arrest.
I then contacted Power's wife who was in the process of divorce. I asked that she go to the Walnut Creek police and animal control and obtain a copy of the police reports. She did, and both agencies told her that she did not have a right to the reports. I then told her of the California Public Records Act and Victim’s Bill of Rights I asked that she go back and make a written request for the documents, and by law, the agencies had ten days to give her copies, or tell her in writing why they would not. On March 16, 2013, 11 months after her dog was killed, the wife made a written request for the records.
When it became evident that she was not going away, three months later on June 12, 2013 and 14 months after her dog was killed, she was given the reports. On July 16, 2013, Todd Powers was arrested and charged with felony cruelty to an animal.
Todd Powers had worked as a bouncer, and calls himself a part time gunsmith. Powers owns an arsenal of guns and other weapons. Since the killing of the family dog, Powers’s wife has obtained a divorce and moved to a new location. She has asked that I only refer to her as Jane Doe. She is not only concerned for her own safety and that of her three young children. She does not want her children questioned by other children in their new neighborhood. Jane Doe has told me the following:
“Just after we were married, Todd became angry and slammed my head into the car door. He later apologized. Roughly ten months later we moved to California. His violence increased. Todd became very controlling about where I could go and whom I could see. He became very agitated if I wanted to go out with my friends and indicated that none of my friends were good for me. He began practicing his bouncer moves on me. He would repeatedly take me to the floor, sometimes cutting off my ability to breathe. On one occasion he dislocated my shoulder. He became very controlling about when I would go to sleep, whether I could read a book before I went to sleep, and when I could urinate at night, and I would have to wait until the morning. He continued to control my access to money. He insisted on having full control of my company books. He password protected them and would not give me access. He began flipping on the lights in the middle of the night, while I was sound asleep, screaming and calling me names. He started bringing weapons to bed, a machete, a shotgun, and handguns also bowie knives. He continued to wake me in the night with violence, on more than one occasion grabbing a loaded gun waving it around.”
In addition she told me their previous dog, Diesel, became very sick. Todd refused to allow her to take him to the vet because he didn’t want to pay for care or euthanization. He threatened that if she did take him to the vet he would shoot their dog.
She told me that they had an elderly cat named Cricket, and about two months before Todd stabbed Seven, Cricket had become ill. She insisted that they take Cricket to the vet. She said that later Todd told her that he had poisoned Cricket with sleeping pills, and they didn’t work, so he asphyxiated her. She said he would not show her the body, and she has not seen Cricket since.
Todd Powers next court date for killing Seven is August 8, 2013 at 9:00 AM in Courtroom 18, Martinez Superior Court, 1020 Ward Street, Martinez, Contra Costa County. Please be there to show your community interest. It does make a difference.
Also, please contact District Attorney Mark Peterson in writing, via email and/or fax.
Address: 900 Ward Street, Martinez, CA 94553
Email: [email protected]
Fax: 925.464.4683
Be sure to add the defendant’s name,
Todd Powers, & case 1-162308-1.
State that you want your comments attached to the probation report.
Thank you for your support. Leroy Moyer - Director
Voices for Pets
925-685-5388
P.O. Box 30836
Walnut Creek, CA 94598
www.voicesforpets.org
Update: September 2013
Todd Hiram Powers of Walnut Creek, California, is charged with felony cruelty to an animal. Powers has admitted killing the 10 month old German Shepherd named Seven.
On April 21, 2012 Powers stabbed Seven with a hunting knife. Seven was registered and had an I. D. number tattooed in his ear. Powers cut off Seven’s ear so that the body could not be traced back to him. Powers then placed Seven’s body in a black plastic bag and dumped the body in a garbage can for disposal.
Three days later, when Animal Control Officer Paul Madsen responded to a report of a dog stabbing, Todd Powers’ mother, Karen, was the only adult at the scene with three young children, all under six years of age. Todd’s mother at first denied any knowledge of where Seven was, or what had happened to him. There was a strong smell of rotting flesh coming from the side of the house and a garbage container with maggots moving around the rim.
When Animal Control Officer Madsen opened the lid of the garbage container he saw a large black garbage bag with newly formed maggots on top, the contents smelled like rotting flesh. At that point Powers’ mother broke down and admitted knowledge of the stabbing, stating she was just told that evening by her son that he had stabbed and killed their family dog. Karen said her son and daughter-in-law were under a lot of stress having financial and marital problems. She said she is extremely worried because she had not seen or heard from her daughter-in-law. She said Todd was in a very emotional state and she believes he may be suicidal.
Later when questioned by Officer Madsen and presented with overwhelming evidence, Todd Powers broke down and began sniveling, not because of what he had done, but because he got caught. Powers began to justify killing Seven. He said Seven had killed some chickens and had been sniffing at their children. Powers claimed Seven had bit his wife.
When someone has chickens, they have a responsibility to protect them from foxes, coyotes, raccoons and dogs. Dogs do sniff people including children. Powers’ ex-wife said “On one occasion, while trying to get to the chickens, Seven lunged at me, but did not bite me. I disciplined him and it did not happen again.”
Powers’ wife said “Todd and I agreed that we would give Seven to another family. Todd refused to speak with Anne from AdlerStein’s, Seven’s breeder. I called her and she agreed to check to see if any of her waiting clients would like an older puppy. Todd received 2 or 3 interested calls from a man named Curtis. Todd refused to schedule a time for Curtis to come see Seven, insisting that he should put Seven down instead.”
Seven was 10 months old when he was intentionally mutilated, tortured and killed by a sadistic master. Seven was not full grown and still very much a puppy. For 7 months Seven was anxious and fearful, constantly anticipating his master’s punishment. Any animal, including you and me, under the same conditions, would be acting up.
The criminal case is The People of the State of California vs. Todd Hiram Powers- Defendant. The defense attorney will blame the victim. It’s that simple. There is no credible defense. The victim’s attorney and our attorney, The People of the State of California, is Contra Costa County District Attorney Mark Peterson.
I have reason to believe that some of Powers’ friends, with the same mind set of what it is to be a manly man, will be in court to show support for Powers. I also have reason to believe that a spokesman for God will be in court, the Pastor of Powers’ church.
Todd Powers’ next court date for killing Seven is Friday Sept. 27, 2013 at 8:30 a.m. in Courtroom 18, Martinez Superior Court, 1020 Ward Street, Martinez, Contra Costa County. Please be there to show support for the victim.
Also, please contact District Attorney Mark Peterson in writing, via email and/or fax.
Please tell Mark Peterson that the hunting knives that Powers used to stab and cut off the ear of the victim, is a deadly weapon and that the charge of use of a deadly weapon must be added to the charge of felony cruelty to an animal.
Address: 900 Ward Street, Martinez, CA 94553
Email: [email protected]
Fax: 925.464.4683
Be sure to add the defendant’s name,
Todd Powers, & case 1-162308-1.
State that you want your comments attached to the probation report.
UPDATE:
Court date has been changed to September 27, 2013 at 8:30 am.
April 2012 to Present
Voices for Pets received a phone call In November 2012 from out of the state of Virginia. The caller said that Todd Powers of Walnut Creek, California had stabbed and killed the family dog, a 10 month old German Shepherd named Seven, with a hunting knife, then put the dog's body in a garbage can. The caller also said Powers had previously killed the family cat named Cricket. The caller was concerned for the safety of Todd's wife and their three children, all under six years of age.
At the time of Seven's killing in April 2012, both Walnut Creek police and animal control were notified, yet, 7 months later in November 2012, there had been no arrest.
I then contacted Power's wife who was in the process of divorce. I asked that she go to the Walnut Creek police and animal control and obtain a copy of the police reports. She did, and both agencies told her that she did not have a right to the reports. I then told her of the California Public Records Act and Victim’s Bill of Rights I asked that she go back and make a written request for the documents, and by law, the agencies had ten days to give her copies, or tell her in writing why they would not. On March 16, 2013, 11 months after her dog was killed, the wife made a written request for the records.
When it became evident that she was not going away, three months later on June 12, 2013 and 14 months after her dog was killed, she was given the reports. On July 16, 2013, Todd Powers was arrested and charged with felony cruelty to an animal.
Todd Powers had worked as a bouncer, and calls himself a part time gunsmith. Powers owns an arsenal of guns and other weapons. Since the killing of the family dog, Powers’s wife has obtained a divorce and moved to a new location. She has asked that I only refer to her as Jane Doe. She is not only concerned for her own safety and that of her three young children. She does not want her children questioned by other children in their new neighborhood. Jane Doe has told me the following:
“Just after we were married, Todd became angry and slammed my head into the car door. He later apologized. Roughly ten months later we moved to California. His violence increased. Todd became very controlling about where I could go and whom I could see. He became very agitated if I wanted to go out with my friends and indicated that none of my friends were good for me. He began practicing his bouncer moves on me. He would repeatedly take me to the floor, sometimes cutting off my ability to breathe. On one occasion he dislocated my shoulder. He became very controlling about when I would go to sleep, whether I could read a book before I went to sleep, and when I could urinate at night, and I would have to wait until the morning. He continued to control my access to money. He insisted on having full control of my company books. He password protected them and would not give me access. He began flipping on the lights in the middle of the night, while I was sound asleep, screaming and calling me names. He started bringing weapons to bed, a machete, a shotgun, and handguns also bowie knives. He continued to wake me in the night with violence, on more than one occasion grabbing a loaded gun waving it around.”
In addition she told me their previous dog, Diesel, became very sick. Todd refused to allow her to take him to the vet because he didn’t want to pay for care or euthanization. He threatened that if she did take him to the vet he would shoot their dog.
She told me that they had an elderly cat named Cricket, and about two months before Todd stabbed Seven, Cricket had become ill. She insisted that they take Cricket to the vet. She said that later Todd told her that he had poisoned Cricket with sleeping pills, and they didn’t work, so he asphyxiated her. She said he would not show her the body, and she has not seen Cricket since.
Todd Powers next court date for killing Seven is August 8, 2013 at 9:00 AM in Courtroom 18, Martinez Superior Court, 1020 Ward Street, Martinez, Contra Costa County. Please be there to show your community interest. It does make a difference.
Also, please contact District Attorney Mark Peterson in writing, via email and/or fax.
Address: 900 Ward Street, Martinez, CA 94553
Email: [email protected]
Fax: 925.464.4683
Be sure to add the defendant’s name,
Todd Powers, & case 1-162308-1.
State that you want your comments attached to the probation report.
Thank you for your support. Leroy Moyer - Director
Voices for Pets
925-685-5388
P.O. Box 30836
Walnut Creek, CA 94598
www.voicesforpets.org
Just as each victim is an individual, each cruelty case is individual as in the case of the stabbing of a 10 month old German shepherd named Seven. He was killed in April 2012. Even though the body was found and two witnesses said 37 year old Todd Powers had killed Seven and when presented with overwhelming evidence, Powers broke down and confessed to stabbing Seven with a hunting knife, he was not arrested.
Eight months later in November 2012, Voices for Pets received a phone call out of the state of Virginia. The caller said that Todd Powers of Walnut Creek, California had stabbed and killed a 10 month old German shepherd named Seven with a hunting knife. The caller also said Powers had previously killed the family cat named Cricket. The caller was concerned for the safety of Powers’ wife and three children, all under six years of age. The caller asked if there was anything Voices for Pets could do to bring about an arrest. I said we would do whatever we could.
On July 16, 2013, fifteen months after Seven was killed, Todd Powers was arrested and charged with felony cruelty to an animal. SO WHY DID IT TAKE FIFTEEN MONTHS TO ARREST POWERS?
Law enforcement, including animal control does not routinely and seriously investigate crimes against non-humans. In this case, in April 2012, Contra Costa Animal Control Officer Paul Madsen received a call from a fellow police officer in the state of Virginia who reported the stabbing of a dog in Walnut Creek, California and advised the use of caution when going to the residence as Todd Powers owned multiple guns and a lot of ammunition.
Officer Madsen spent the time necessary to investigate, gather evidence, impound Seven’s body to be examined by a veterinarian and wrote a well written report.
The higher ups at Animal Control put the report in a file cabinet and forgot about it until Voices for Pets began to agitate. Yes, agitate. I am proud to be called an outside agitator. When it became evident that the killing of Seven would be made public, the report was finally sent to the Contra Costa District Attorney’s office and fifteen months after Seven was killed Powers was arrested and charged with felony cruelty to an animal.
Todd Powers stabbed Seven twice in the chest with a hunting knife, then cut Seven’s throat. Seven was registered and had an I. D. number tattooed in his ear. Powers cut off Seven’s ear so that the body could not be traced back to him, then placed Seven’s body in a garbage can for disposal.
Seven was not full grown and still very much a puppy. A veterinarian who examined Seven’s body testified the puppy bled to death and took 10 minutes to die.
In 1988 The People of the State of California through our legislators determined that in cruelty to animal cases some acts are felony behavior.
Judge Mary Ann O’Malley said she didn’t consider the act felonious and reduced the charge to a misdemeanor. Judge O’Malley’s moral compass is not in tune with society.
District Attorney Mark Peterson’s office gave Powers a plea bargain of 30 days alternative work program and three years unsupervised probation.
Leroy Moyer, Director
Voices for Pets
P. O. Box 30836
Walnut Creek, CA 94598
(925) 685 5388
Eight months later in November 2012, Voices for Pets received a phone call out of the state of Virginia. The caller said that Todd Powers of Walnut Creek, California had stabbed and killed a 10 month old German shepherd named Seven with a hunting knife. The caller also said Powers had previously killed the family cat named Cricket. The caller was concerned for the safety of Powers’ wife and three children, all under six years of age. The caller asked if there was anything Voices for Pets could do to bring about an arrest. I said we would do whatever we could.
On July 16, 2013, fifteen months after Seven was killed, Todd Powers was arrested and charged with felony cruelty to an animal. SO WHY DID IT TAKE FIFTEEN MONTHS TO ARREST POWERS?
Law enforcement, including animal control does not routinely and seriously investigate crimes against non-humans. In this case, in April 2012, Contra Costa Animal Control Officer Paul Madsen received a call from a fellow police officer in the state of Virginia who reported the stabbing of a dog in Walnut Creek, California and advised the use of caution when going to the residence as Todd Powers owned multiple guns and a lot of ammunition.
Officer Madsen spent the time necessary to investigate, gather evidence, impound Seven’s body to be examined by a veterinarian and wrote a well written report.
The higher ups at Animal Control put the report in a file cabinet and forgot about it until Voices for Pets began to agitate. Yes, agitate. I am proud to be called an outside agitator. When it became evident that the killing of Seven would be made public, the report was finally sent to the Contra Costa District Attorney’s office and fifteen months after Seven was killed Powers was arrested and charged with felony cruelty to an animal.
Todd Powers stabbed Seven twice in the chest with a hunting knife, then cut Seven’s throat. Seven was registered and had an I. D. number tattooed in his ear. Powers cut off Seven’s ear so that the body could not be traced back to him, then placed Seven’s body in a garbage can for disposal.
Seven was not full grown and still very much a puppy. A veterinarian who examined Seven’s body testified the puppy bled to death and took 10 minutes to die.
In 1988 The People of the State of California through our legislators determined that in cruelty to animal cases some acts are felony behavior.
Judge Mary Ann O’Malley said she didn’t consider the act felonious and reduced the charge to a misdemeanor. Judge O’Malley’s moral compass is not in tune with society.
District Attorney Mark Peterson’s office gave Powers a plea bargain of 30 days alternative work program and three years unsupervised probation.
Leroy Moyer, Director
Voices for Pets
P. O. Box 30836
Walnut Creek, CA 94598
(925) 685 5388