A 40-year-old Saginaw County man is behind bars after Buena Vista Township police say he fatally shot his ex-girlfriend’s two 7-year-old pit bulls, then texted her a photo of their bodies on Monday. Detectives say the animals were found dead shortly after he sent the image, and officers have taken the suspect into custody while the investigation moves forward.
How police say it unfolded
Buena Vista Township Police Detective Russ Pahssen told The Detroit News that the suspect, identified as 40-year-old Joseph Himmelein, first texted the woman’s sister and demanded that his ex call him, threatening to kill the dogs if she did not respond within 10 minutes. Officers later found both pit bulls dead. Police say the dogs were a female named Porkchop and a white-and-gray male named Bruiser, both about 7 years old, and that Himmelein then sent a photograph of their carcasses to the woman after the shootings.
Legal consequences under Michigan law
Under Michigan law, the willful killing or torture of an animal is a criminal offense that can be treated as a felony. The state’s cruelty statutes, MCL 750.50 and MCL 750.50b, carry graduated penalties that can include up to 10 years in prison for the most serious cases involving the killing or torture of animals, according to the Animal Legal & Historical Center.
Arrest and next steps
Himmelein is currently being held in custody, Buena Vista Township police told The Detroit News, and investigators have turned the case over to prosecutors for a charging decision. As of the latest update, it was not clear whether formal charges had been filed, and police have not released further information about a possible motive or the weapon involved.
Where this case fits
In recent years, Michigan advocates and lawmakers have pressed to strengthen animal-cruelty laws and make it easier for shelters and prosecutors to seize and care for abused animals. Organizations such as the Michigan Humane Society say those reforms are aimed at closing loopholes and toughening penalties when companion animals are intentionally harmed.
