A family has been left heartbroken after a FedEx employee stole their beloved French bulldog — and the dog died in a hot truck as the man continued making deliveries.
As the owners mourn, the thief has been arrested and charged.
On July 3, a French Bulldog named Tori was reported missing after escaping through a door that was accidentally left open.
Tori was a prize-winning show dog worth $5,500. Her owners were devastated and wanted to bring her home before it was too late.
“We have searched all over and cannot find her,” owner Lori Hartman Kemmerer wrote at the time. “We are heart broken to say the least. Tori will never survive being out in the heat. I am so hoping someone picked her up.”
Sadly, Tori never made it home, as a dognapping led to tragedy.
According to ABC 11, FedEx driver Kimani Joehon Marshall snatched up Tori while making his deliveries. He kept the dog in his truck while he continued on his route — and the poor dog died due to the high temperatures in the vehicle.
Investigators say that Marshall knew Tori and had asked the dog’s owners about breeding her with one of his own dogs, an offer that was declined. It seems that he stole the dog after she got loose, and inadvertently caused her death.
Kemmerer wrote on Facebook that after Tori died, Marshall “dumped her on the side of the road.”
According to the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office, Marshall was arrested and charged with larceny of a dog, possession of stolen goods and cruelty to animals. He is in Harnett County Detention Center on a $50,000 secured bond.
FedEx released a statement of sympathy, stressing that Marshall was no longer in their employ.
“We extend our deepest sympathies to the family on the loss of their beloved pet,” the company said in a statement to ABC 11. “We understand the importance of people’s pets in their lives and deeply regret the pain that this has caused. The driver is no longer providing service on behalf of FedEx.”
Kemmerer wrote that she went through an “unforgivable time.” She remembered Lori as an “amazing girl” who was “amazing in the show ring.”
“She loved every second, she loved everyone she met,” Kemmerer wrote. “Most of all she loved me unconditionally.”
She also urged fellow dog owners to be on alert. French bulldogs are a very popular and valuable breed, which makes them a frequent target of dognapping: they are the most-stolen dog breed by a large margin, accounting for twice as many thefts as the next breed.
“Please hold your babies close,” Kemmerer wrote. “Do not let any delivery person know what you have. If you google you will see many cases against delivery companies stealing dogs.”
How horrible — rest in peace, Lori 😢💔 Our condolences to this poor dog’s family and we are glad this dog thief has been charged.
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