Ex-Con Who Claimed To Practice Voodoo Killed Pit Bull: Police

HOLLYWOOD, FL — A 31-year-old ex-convict who once told a police officer he practiced voodoo, has been arrested in the gruesome killing of Ollie the pit bull. The dog was found stuffed inside a suitcase, beaten and stabbed more than 50 times on Oct. 10. Brendan Evans was charged with aggravated animal cruelty and police said they discovered evidence of other animal abuse and demonic worship in his apartment, including a written plea wrapped around a candle to "make the entire pit bull investigation go away."

Hollywood police executed a search warrant in Evans' apartment on Nov. 14 after his DNA was discovered on the blue suitcase that held the badly injured and whimpering Ollie. The suitcase was found one building away from Evans' apartment in the 1900 block of Lee Street, according to police.

“We will not tolerate any form of animal cruelty or violence in our city. Each reported case of animal cruelty, be it physical abuse or neglect, is disturbing, and this case is particularly heartbreaking," said Acting Hollywood Police Chief Chris O'Brien in announcing the arrest late Wednesday. "We were all pulling for Ollie to survive, but unfortunately he didn't make it. However, due to our investigation, we are now able to provide justice for Ollie.”

Ollie's sunny disposition won the hearts of the police and veterinary staff who cared for him, and his plight triggered an outpouring of more than 1,300 donations from across the United States and as far away as the United Kingdom and Norway.

Court documents said that police found several dead rats in the top shelf of Evans' freezer, including one with its legs and part of its scalp removed. A second had its tail removed and police found white wax on its carcass. A third rat had its head removed, according to police, who said they also found two cat paws in the freezer.

The pit bull was suffering from stab wounds to his head and body when police found him behind an abandoned building in the 1900 block of Lee Street early.

Police said that Evans was arrested by the Broward Sheriff's Office in 2012 for domestic battery and he is currently on probation for bank robbery in Hernando County. Evans fingerprints were also linked to a residential burglary in the Hollywood. He was also charged with burglary and violating his probation.

Watch Now: Ex-Con Arrested In Killing Of Ollie The Pit Bull

Brendan Evans photo courtesy Broward County Sheriff's Office