Aurora man: I beat my dog to death with an axe because it was starving

An Aurora man is charged with two felonies, animal abuse and armed criminal action, in connection with the bludgeoning death of his dog.

According to the Aurora Police Department probable cause statement, Mark Rickman, 51, says he killed the dog because it was starving. The statement indicates there was evidence that indicated the dog was healthy before Rickman took an axe to it.

Rickman's first hearing on the case is scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday at the Justice Center in Mt. Vernon.

The run-in with the law is not the first for Rickman, who has had numerous dealings with the Aurora Police Department in the past.


Online Lawrence County Circuit Court documents show that Rickman has two felony trials awaiting him in 2015. An April 22, 2015, trial is scheduled on burglary and stealing charges, while he is scheduled for an October 2015 trial on charges of driving while intoxicated as an aggravated offender, resisting arrest, and driving without a valid driver's license.

The probable cause statement for the animal abuse charges, written by Officer Derrick Henson, is printed below:

On June 28, 2014, at 1446 hours, I was dispatched to 918 S. Griffith Street, Aurora MO 65605 in reference to a report of animal abuse. Upon my arrival, I made contact with a male identified as Eddie Fruzza. Fruzza stated he had witnessed a male, later identified as Mark Rickman, hit a dog with an axe approximately 15 times. Fruzza stated he had photos of Rickman dragging the dog on a chain after killing the animal. I could clearly see Rickman in the photos dragging an aminal with a large metal chain around the animal's neck. The animal in the photos appeared to be dead.

Fruzza stated the male in the photos was the male who had killed the dog. I traveled to 915 S. Griffith Street, Aurora MO 65605 where I made contact with Rickman. Rickman stated that somebody had killed his dog. I advised Rickman of his Miranda Rights and Rickman stated  the dog was killed because it was starving. Rickman said he did not want to say anymore. I could see the animal approximately 10 feet from where we were standing covered in blood. The animal had several wounds on its head and neck. I could see a trail of blood where the animal had been drug approximately 18 feet from a dog house.

The animal had a large metal chain wrapped around its neck. I followed the blood trail and found a large pool of blood approximately four feet from the dog's house. Officer Morrison was able to locate the axe used at 1821 S. Griffith, Aurora MO 65605. The axe was very dull and was edged on one side and blunt on the other. The axe had also been cleaned off prior to our arrival.

The dog's body did not show any signs of starvation. The dog appeared to be healthy before death. I could see there was food and water that had been left for the dog. I was able to count at leas four wounds on the dog approximately two inches long and half an inch deep. The animal appeared to have died from blunt force trauma due to the axe's dullness. The majority of the blood appeared to have come from the dog's mouth due to internal injuries. While taking photos of the scene, I noticed some fecal matter around the dog's house. The fecal matter was solid and healthy rather than a liquid.