A Marion County woman is facing a felony charge after she allegedly found a family's lost dog and tried to hold the animal for a $1,000 ransom instead of returning it. Christina Spence-Reid was arrested Saturday night and now faces a charge of grand theft, according to the Marion County Sheriff's Office.
How the Search for Teddy Turned Into an Alleged Shakedown
The case began when deputies responded to a report of a family pet theft, as reported by WKMG ClickOrlando. Investigators said the family's dog, named Teddy, was lost and later found in Spence-Reid's possession. The victim eventually found a Facebook post indicating Teddy had been found, according to investigators.
From there, deputies say Spence-Reid sent the victim a photo of herself with Teddy and demanded $1,000 to give the dog back. When deputies tracked her down at her home, they found Teddy still in her possession. Per the same account, Spence-Reid admitted she planned to keep Teddy unless the family paid up.
Booking Details and Bond
Marion County jail records show Spence-Reid was booked Saturday at 9:50 p.m. under Florida Statute § 812.014-2c1, for grand theft of property valued between $750 and $5,000, according to Florida Arrests. Bond was set at $2,500, and she was released Sunday after posting it.
Under Florida Statute § 812.014(2)(c)1, third-degree grand theft applies to stolen property valued between $750 and $20,000 and carries potential penalties of up to five years in prison, five years of probation, and a $5,000 fine, according to George Law. To sustain that felony threshold, prosecutors must establish that Teddy's fair market value at the time of the alleged theft met or exceeded $750.
What Florida Law Says About Finding a Lost Pet
Florida law lays out clear obligations for anyone who comes across a lost animal or item. Under Florida Statute § 705.102, a finder of lost or abandoned property must report its description and location to law enforcement, and unlawfully appropriating or refusing to deliver found property constitutes theft, according to Online Sunshine.
Demanding payment to return an animal under threat of keeping it could also implicate Florida's extortion statute. Under Florida Statute § 836.05, extortion involves maliciously threatening harm to another person's property, person, or reputation to demand money or compel an action, a second-degree felony punishable by up to 15 years in state prison and a $10,000 fine, according to the Criminal Defense Attorney Tampa firm. Notably, extortion charges in Florida do not require that the victim actually hand over the demanded money for the crime to be complete.
Pets as Property, and a Murky Legal Line
Florida law complicates these cases further because domestic pets are legally classified as personal property, even though Florida's Constitution affirms the humane treatment of animals as a fundamental value, according to The Florida Bar. That tension complicates the legal treatment of lost-pet disputes.
In Teddy's case, the allegation is that a lost dog was kept unless the family paid for its return.
It remains unclear whether prosecutors will formally present evidence establishing Teddy's monetary value to sustain the grand theft charge, or whether additional extortion charges could be considered before the case moves forward.
