RICHMOND — Police said a Richmond man fatally stabbed his wife’s dog after an argument over money.
Samuel A. Voorhees, 39, faces charges of first-degree cruelty to animals for the alleged stabbing and second-degree assault for the argument with his wife, which police said became violent.
On Feb. 5 at 9 p.m., officers were called to the 400 block of Big Hill Avenue, according to Richmond police.
Police said Voorhees hit his wife, who has not been identified, with a large wooden lamp. She suffered a broken arm. Police said Voorhees also destroyed a large-screen television set before he fled.
Officers arrested Voorhees about 5:30 p.m. the next day at an apartment near his home.
Shortly after his arrest, Voorhees’ wife told police that she found her 11/2-year-old Pekingese and poodle mix stabbed to death behind a chair. Officers found a knife they said was linked to Voorhees.
Voorhees’ father-in-law also told police that Voorhees had sold the father-in-law’s lawn mower and tiller at a local pawn shop.
Voorhees also is charged with theft by unlawful taking more than $300 and violation of a domestic violence order. He was being held at Madison County jail on a $12,500 cash bond.
Ashlee Clark covers Madison County for the Herald-Leader. Reach her at (859) 626-5878.
I hope they throw the book at this guy instead of the usual slap on the wrist, that animal abusers usually get.
How cruel to take your frustrations out on a poor animal…this guy is an embarrassment to society and belongs behind bars..
I only hope he gets the punishment he deserves, but I’ll bet that doesn’t happen.
I think they should chop his balls off
Let the punishment fit the crime- lets hit him with a wooden lamp and stab him and leave him lying somewhere, preferably in the dumpster where he belongs. Taking out your anger on a defenseless animal is the height of cowardice, and incredibly cruel. I hope they put him under the jail!
First of all, the real crime is against the wife. You who have already commented seem to not realize this. He hit her with a lamp and destroyed her property, that being the dog. Yes I think he should be punished for both and I don’t agree with hurting an animal, but let us keep in mind the wife is who has truely been harmed by this act of anger.
The poor dog might not agree with you chromegto - each crime is very serious.
What a twisted man! I hope he gets everything that he deserves.
its a dog
This is HORRIBLE for both the wife and dog - he should get what he did to them to him!!!! - death would be the best thing then no one else would ever have to suffer under him again - cuz you know he will get his wrist slapped and sent out to the world again - to hurt!
Theres nothing more profound than a grown person, acting out of control over words that are said and he or she cant handle it, an take it out on someone or something.
Thank you chromegto, for mentioning that the real crime is against the wife. Everybody seems to be focusing on the dog…which is sad, yes…but it is an animal. He beat his wife and broke her arm. She is a person. He should go to jail for that, then tack on aminal cruelty afterwards. Why are people so focused on aminals that they are more compassionate to dog than a person. Ridiculous.
This guy is sick. Like everyone else, I hope he gets what he deserves.
I know of a man that got 10yrs for murdering a human,I sincerely hope this guy gets 15 YEARS, due to the fact I know someone who got 15yrs,for shooting a dog, but he didnt do it the guy that did it fled the state!
Does anyone else find it creepy that his last name is Voorhees? That he likes to stab things? See the correlation? HA! Regardless, I hope justice is served in this case. People are getting worse and worse everyday.
I would like to get him alone for about a half hour. and then the courts could have him after he gets out of the hostpital.
thank GOD it was the dog an not her it could have been please stay away from him pray he goes to jail for a long time but he will get more time for the dog than what he will for his wife an inlaws i will pray for them
I think he is cruel who would take out their anger on a dog to kill him is as if killing a human then to top all that you throw a lamp at your girl stupid man you need to take anger management classes man and ecspecially over money you should be tazed, stabbed, and be thrown a wooden lamp at your arm just to show the pain then killed noone likes you and if they did i bet you they feel totally different now
i bet you feel bad now that you hurt a woman and killed a dog….??????????????????????????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Perhaps putting him in a cell withy 2 or 3 pitbulls would even the score.
TO ‘chromegto’: the crime was against the wife AND the small domestic animal that lost it’s life. Where are your conclusions coming from? There is a injured woman, but there is also a DEAD INNOCENT small animal that had nothing to do with two adults arguing or fighting and is dead now, by the hands of a man that ‘just had to kill something’, and as always, this type of abuser picks the most helpless victim 1st. Either an animal or child. This is such an embarrassment to our community and state. It’s people like Voorhees that WILL strike again and God help us it not be on his wife, child or another human, never the less another innocent, helpless animal that can do nothing to protect itself, not even SCREAM FOR HELP like most humans can do. Rethink your morals. It could be your family tomorrow. People like Voorhoos that can stab an innocent animal to death are nothing less than EVIL. He has probably already hurt another human worst than what we know of. Don’t be so quick to disregard an innocent domestic animals life. I’ve done lots of research while fighting for the ‘Romeo Law’, which if I had to guess you have no idea what the law stands for or you were against it. The largest percentage of individuals that turn their anger on innocent animals go on to become more violent offenders but choose humans whether it be adults or children as their next targets. Facts not opinions, sir. Do the reseach, it will scare you to death to know we live in a world with people that can commit such crimes against animals and where they go from there once they’ve started. jws
Yes I agree somewhat with what twinsmom says BUT an animal and a child have NO say in these situations, not to downplay anything against the woman at all. I have been in an abusive relationship and finally escaped and I also have children and pets. I think the people responding about the pet probably feel the same way I do, that poor little dog could not do anything about its situation. At least the wife now has a choice……
I read this story and i wonder if the justice system is ever going to do something about domestic violence besides just issuing domestic violence orders that always seem to be broken anyways! I hope the good Lord will watch over this woman and all the other men and women who are innocent victims of domestic violence the abuse against the human race and animals has to be stopped. It’s time for our justice system to go something about it instead of just turning there heads the other way.
come on people she has known for years since they married on fri.13 with his kind of last name this would possibly happen. she has cheated for almost 2 years with a married man that goes to her work and they all sit and talk bad about her husband yet when he is around they act as if she is not a cheater. is this really over 5 dollars as she says or did she prevoke him as always. he went to jail recently and she said she would leave him there to rot. thats what she told every one but honestly she posted a 1000.00 cash bond to get him out. she has known for years he is a bad drug addict she feeds him his supply time and time again. they fight he goes to jail and she gets him out to do it again she did not think that he would hurt her kids but y allow that to even become a chance. yes this is the worst he done her but its on going for years so she should have left him.this is someone who knows them pretty well and yes this is my personal thought and people are intitled to that. but her size compared to his she should gave the 5 dollars or beat him up.
I think that my father sam shall see life in jail. Things he has done my step mom are beyond normal. I live in GA thank God and I don’t want anything to do with him. Its very sad to read all the comments people are saying about my dad….I just hope one day he is not sick in the head anymore…Drugs will do this to you.