Teen Charged in Bizarre Missing Dog Case

[douglas9]

Source: Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- A telephone call at midnight normally would have awoken Bill Whiting, but he hadn't been sleeping much since his dog disappeared. He picked up the phone and couldn't believe what he heard.

Children were demanding $600 or else they would kill Edna, his beloved beagle mix. Whiting listened in horror to what sounded like the jingle of Edna's collar, and an animal yelping in pain. He agreed to pay the ransom.

"You don't understand, mister," a boy replied. "I want to kill your dog anyway."

What happened to Edna remains a mystery, but Philadelphia police have charged a 15-year-old with harassment, terroristic threats, theft by extortion and other counts for allegedly calling Whiting. Police have yet to find the dog.

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MISSING_DOG_EXTORTION?SITE=PAYOK&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[WillParkinson]

1. OMFG

Children are becoming so evil.

[Kolesar]

5. Children were violent and malevolent 40 years ago, too

...where I grew up. And where bush* grew up.

[Double T]

2. Young psychopath vermin for which there is NO REHAB or CURE.

This pure scum of humanity needs to be put away in prison for life. Next victim will be YOUR CHILD or SPOUSE.

[flying_wahini]

3. there is too much violence in our society, kids are steeped in it

even commercials are mean, have you noticed?

why must they make everything with blood?

[soothsayer]

6. watch the Three Stooges if you want to see violence. Popeye and the Road Runner, too

[ladywnch]

9. okay, how is it that millions of us grew up watching these shows

and are perfectly normal well adjusted adults who never tortured animals (or people), who don't go out and drop anvils on others, poke out eyes, etc. Parents share a larger reposnsibility and influence than cartoons. I'm more concerned about Disney TV that teaches kids to be dim-witted, self absorbed, vapid, immediate self gratification junkies (ie: Suite life of zack and cody, that's so raven, lizzie mcguire, etc.) and that their parents are complete morons not worth listening to.

[Mnemosyne]

10. Hear, hear, ladywnch! A late welcome

to DU! :applause:

[MetaTrope]

4. Maybe the kid's last name is Huckabee?

The police should check...

[acmavm]

7. This kid is perfect material for an up-and-coming star of the republican

party.

[SeanQuinn]

8. Innocent until proven guilty.

Not that what that teen did was inexcusable. I know it's part of the teenage lore to be mischevious -- I'm experiencing that right now -- but threatening murder and/or extortion to any living thing is crossing the line.

Why I say "Innocent until proven guilty." is that this may be a friend of the teen charged or someone who doesn't deserve the bill for this heinous act. But still.