August 11 was Hunter's last day, and it was a terrible one.
The beagle was the beloved companion of the Evans family in New Orleans. Hunter loved to lie in the sun for hours at a time, got a kick out of sitting by the family pool, and was well known throughout the neighborhood for his sweet disposition. In early August, the inquisitive 6-year-old dog snuck out of the yard while the Evans were painting their fence—Patricia Evans, Hunter's lawful guardian, was sick with worry, especially after several days passed and the family still hadn't seen a sign of Hunter. Patricia came home one day to find her father extremely distraught. He told her that they had found Hunter. It didn't sound good. Patricia's own account is as follows:
"When I got home, [my friend] was in tears and my father had his head pressed against his desktop; I knew something was wrong. My father then told my brother and I that a man ... [named] Christopher D. Alessi had found our dog. We were told by a reliable source that he was trying to 'take care' of Hunter. On that Saturday, [Alessi] was spotted at a local Auto Zone with Hunter in the back of his truck. Witnesses saw Hunter try and escape, but [Alessi] hurried to him and began punching him in the face as someone would in a boxing match and threw him with force into the back of his truck. [Alessi] then continued to drive to his home, where the witness followed him. When he got out of the car, he [allegedly] grabbed Hunter by the throat and began choking him to death. The witnesses said he had his hands around his neck and Hunter tried to get his legs [on] the ground, but [Alessi] grew angrier and pulled him harder until he died. The police came almost immediately and arrested him."
The witnesses were a couple who deserve our good thoughts for this act of courage. We understand that one of them is testifying against Alessi but that the other is in counseling as a result of what she reportedly saw that day. It's too late to save Hunter, but we can all loudly call for justice in his name. The task of prosecuting this horrific case falls to the office of Jefferson Parish District Attorney Paul D. Connick Jr. Urge Mr. Connick to vigorously pursue this alleged display of cowardice. The task of adjudicating the case falls to Judge Ross Ladart. Respectfully remind both officials that a vigorous prosecution of this and any cruelty case—and the pursuit of stringent penalties against animal abusers upon conviction—is in the best interests of the county's human and animal residents and sends the message that the defenseless must be safeguarded and that cruelty will not be tolerated.
Call on them to ensure that, if convicted, the suspect receives the maximum penalties, including incarceration; a permanent prohibition on his having ownership, custody, or control of animals (as is allowed by state law); and any necessary psychiatric intervention.
Please send your polite comments to:
The Honorable Paul D. Connick Jr.
Office of the District Attorney
200 Derbigny St.
Gretna, LA 70053-5850
504-361-2585 (fax)
The Honorable Ross Ladart
24th Judicial District
Division O
200 Derbigny St.
Gretna, LA 70053-5850
504-364-2665 (fax)
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