Woman Indicted In Death Of Dog In Hot Car

TRUSSVILLE, AL — A woman who left her dog in a hot car last summer, leading to the dog's death, has been indicted by a Jefferson County Grand Jury. Stephanie Shae Thomas, 34, has been charged with aggravated cruelty to animals.

The incident occurred July 4 last year in the parking lot of the Trussville Walmart. Thomas reportedly parked the car in the parking lotat approximately 4 a.m. July 4 and went inside the store. She returned to her car at noon after her dog had already died.

Trussville PD Lt. Phil Dillon said a police officer was called around 11 a.m. by someone who saw the dog in the car, and the officer had the store page the name of the car owner over the loud speaker, but no one responded. Dillon said the supervisor arrived within minutes and observed that the dog was breathing, but in distress. He knocked the car window out in an effort to save the dog, but those efforts failed and the dog died.

The indictment states that Thomas is accused of intentionally or knowingly subjecting an animal to cruel neglect by leaving the animal located in a hot vehicle for approximately seven hours. She faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.