Guilty verdict for woman who stole, euthanised dying neighbour’s dog

A TERMINALLY ill man whose neighbour stole and killed his Siberian husky says he is happy she has been found guilty and wants her in prison.

Supplied Editorial 28122014dogtheft

A US woman found guilty of stealing and euthanising her terminally ill neighbour’s dog may face up to ten years in prison.

Gisele Paris was accused of taking the Siberian husky, Thor, from the garden of her Pittsburgh neighbour Mark Boehler in November 2013. She had the dog euthanised in her home by a licensed veterinarian on February 10, WPXI reports.

Paris was found guilty of theft, receiving stolen property and cruelty to animals.

Euthanised ... the Siberian husky, Thor, allegedly taken from the garden of her Pittsburgh neighbour Mark Boehler. Picture: WPXI

Mr Boehler, who is being treated for stage 3 cancer, is said to have pleaded for the safe return of his dog until learning he had been put down. A veterinarian testified in court that Thor was healthy and had a treatable condition.

“I was thrilled to death she got convicted,” Mr Boehler said. “If somebody did that to her dog, she would be crying like a baby. She knew what she did. She took that dog.”

‘The jury got it right’ ... Officer Christine Luffey, who arrested Gisele Paris in February. Picture: WPXI

A local police officer involved in the case, Christine Luffey, commented that she agreed with the court’s decision. “The jury got it right. I have spoken to Mark Boehler throughout this whole ordeal. Every time we talked, he cried,” she said.

Officer Luffey arrested Paris in February.

Paris’ lawyer Robert Mielnicki argues that Paris found Thor while out for a walk and had subsequently taken him in and cared for him because he was neglected, but understood Mr Boehler’s testimony was striking.

Terminally ill ... Mark Boehler faces the end of his life without his dog Thor by his side. Picture: WPXI

“I don’t think the jury could get over Mr Boehler coming in. That was powerful testimony,” he said.

Paris is currently on bail and under house arrest while she waits to face another trial on charges of allegedly resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer, over the incident with Thor.

Her sentence in the first case may be as minor as probation or as severe as ten years in jail. “I hope she does time for it so she can sit in jail and think about what she did,” Mr Boehler said.

If Paris is found to have buried Thor’s remains, Mr Boehler would like them returned.

Facing further charges ... Gisele Paris could be sentenced to ten years in prison. Picture: WPXI

Originally published as Guilty verdict for woman who stole, euthanised dying neighbour’s dog