Update, this jeffry dahmer style 'subhuman' genious has confessed to the
crime.

Man Held On Arson, Cruelty Charges In Dog Deaths
Suspect Arrested Following Phone Tip

POSTED: 8:19 am MST March 4, 2004
GOLDEN, Colo. -- A suspect was under arrest Thursday on suspicion of arson
and cruelty to animals for allegedly setting three dogs on fire, killing
two of them.

Ryan Turtura, 19 (pictured, left), was arrested after a telephone tip led
authorities to question him, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department said.

The arrest warrant for Turtura indicated that he admitted setting the dog
on fires during a voluntary interview with investigators Thursday afternoon.

Turtura faces charges of first-degree arson, cruelty to animals,
second-degree burglary, theft and criminal mischief. He was being held
under $25,000 bail in the Jefferson County Jail and wil be formally
charged Monday.

"It's a heinous offense, obviously," said Ted Mink, the Jefferson County
sheriff. "Setting a helpless animal on fire kind of tugs at the
heartstrings of the community and society in general, so it's very
important that we followed up on this and get the suspect in here so that
this doesn't happen in the future."

Four dogs were stolen Feb. 16 from the Colorado Humane Society in Englewood.

Two were bound and set on fire in a plastic kennel behind an Arvada movie
theater the same night. One died.

Three hours later, a third dog was found burning in a stairwell behind a
Jefferson County fitness center. A gym employee saw a man standing over
the burning animal and carrying two other dogs.

The man dropped one dog and fled. The burned dog died, but the one dropped
by the man survived.

Police later found a drug store surveillance video (pictured, right)
showing a man purchasing duct tape and rubbing alcohol the night the dogs
were killed. An enhanced copy of the video was made public on Monday and
that led to the telephone tip.

The person who phoned in the tip is eligible for a $17,000 reward if
Turtura is convicted.

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