Middleburg Outrage As Kids Accused Of Abusing Chihuahua At Local Boat Ramp

At a small, normally quiet boat ramp on Black Creek, a disturbing scene involving a young chihuahua-mix has Clay County residents rattled and deputies asking the public for help.

According to Clay County deputies, witnesses say a group of children threw the dog into the water at the Main Street Boat Ramp in Middleburg and held it under. A family pulled the animal to shore, but it died a few days later. Investigators describe the suspects as four to five children, estimated to be between about 9 and 13 years old, who left before officers arrived. Authorities have released video of the encounter and opened a criminal investigation.

Sheriff Posts Reel, Asks Community To Help

The Clay County Sheriff's Office shared a Facebook reel on June 10 that includes footage of the episode and the caption, "Why would anybody do this?" The post urges anyone who recognizes the children to contact investigators and identifies the scene as the Main Street Boat Ramp, along with a case reference number for detectives.

Deputies specifically asked parents to check whether their children were in the area that day and to speak with investigators if they have any information, according to the Clay County Sheriff's Office.

Investigators Outline Timeline And Suspects

Clay County detectives say the incident happened on May 17 and involved four to five children at the ramp who reportedly tossed the chihuahua-mix into the water and held it under. A family that witnessed the abuse pulled the dog from the creek, but it died a few days later, investigators told reporters.

The department listed the case number as 2026-011933 and identified Detective Gary Winterstein as the lead investigator. Media reports share a detective's phone number and email address for tips and note that anonymous tips can be submitted through the SaferWatch app or First Coast Crimestoppers, as reported by News4JAX.

Where This Took Place

The Main Street Boat Ramp sits on the North Fork of Black Creek in Middleburg, next to Master Sgt. John E. Hayes Memorial Park. County documents list the public launch at 3788 Main St.

The small public ramp is a familiar neighborhood spot for boaters and paddlers, which officials say could make it easier for locals to recognize the children in the footage. The county park map confirms the ramp's location and amenities, per Clay County.

Legal Outlook

Under Florida law, cruelty to animals can be charged as a first-degree misdemeanor. Acts that intentionally cause an animal's death or prolonged suffering may be prosecuted as aggravated animal cruelty, a third-degree felony under Section 828.12.

Penalties for aggravated offenses can include fines and prison time, and recent changes require certain convictions to be published in a searchable list. Because the people depicted in the video are juveniles, any case would most likely move through Florida's juvenile court system, which follows different procedures and confidentiality rules, according to the Florida Statutes and Chapter 39.

How To Help

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Gary Winterstein at 904-264-6512 (ask for Detective Winterstein) or email [email protected]. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the SaferWatch app or First Coast Crimestoppers at 888-845-TIPS. Callers are asked to reference case number 2026-011933.

Local authorities say even small details could help identify the children in the video, as reported by News4JAX.