A new felony animal abuse charge was filed today in Jasper County Circuit Court against a Joplin couple who allegedly starved and tortured their dog, then abandoned him in Webb City.
The dog died two days later.
The felony charges for Patrick James Morgan (DOB 1996) and Bianca Nichole Crouch (DOB 1997) are due to the alleged torture of the dog.
They are also charged with three misdemeanor counts of animal abuse.
The following statement was issued by the Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney's office:
The Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney announced today that the State has filed felony animal abuse charges against Bianca Crouch and Patrick Morgan for failing to provide adequate care and nutrition to their dog which was the result of torture consciously inflicted while the dog was still alive. Crouch and Morgan are also charged with three misdemeanor counts of animal abuse.
Much of the initial investigation was based on information from social media and statements from witnesses who wished to remain anonymous. That information had to be verified, and we had to make certain that witnesses with first-hand knowledge were willing to testify in court before filing the
additional charges.
As with every case, the State must have sufficient, admissible evidence to prove the charges before filing. This office appreciates the passion and the patience of those advocating for animal rights. We must also keep in mind that the filing of a charge is merely an accusation, and the parties are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Between October 2024 and March 17, 2026, Patrick Morgan had care, custody and control of a dog named Snoop. Bianca Crouch adopted the dog from the Joplin Humane Society in October of 2024.Between the dates of October 2025 and March 17, 2026, Crouch and Morgan intentionally caused the dog to suffer by not providing him adequate nutrition. Crouch also permitted the dog to be abused by Morgan who beat the dog and left him tied to the door.
On March 17, 2026, Crouch and Morgan put the severely emaciated dog in a plastic bin and dumped him at the industrial park located at 3517 N. Red Iron Drive in Webb City.
The dog was located the following morning by employees of CINTAS who called the Webb City Police.
When I arrived, I found the dog severely starved with bare ribs showing, failing to react to stimulus, drooling.
When I picked up Snoop to place him in my patrol vehicle, my fingers were able to go through the webbing of his rib cage. The dog was taken to the Joplin Humane Society where he died two days later.
According to the veterinarian who performed a necropsy, the dog was severely malnourished and there was no evidence of any illness that had caused or contributed to cause the dog's death.
Based on information from several witnesses, between October of 2025 and March 17, 2026, both Crouch and Morgan intentionally failed to feed the dog, and Morgan was seen beating the dog and leaving him tied up outside.
Both Crouch and Morgan intentionally caused suffering to the dog as a result of torture consciously inflicted while the dog was alive.
1 comment:
Send them to prison.
Let them tell their fellow inmates what their dog's name was and that they tortured and starved it to death.
They will be very popular with their fellow inmates.
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