Necropsy On K9 Found Dead in Police Car Complete

CANTON, GA -- The Cherokee County Marshal's Office has received the necropsy report on Inka, a four-year-old Belgian Malinois who was found dead Friday in the patrol vehicle belonging to the Cherokee County School Police Department.

The initial findings, the agency said Monday, are "consistent with the cause of death being...heat stroke."

Investigators also interviewed Lt. Daniel Peabody, Inka's handler. Peabody, the agency said, "was cooperative and provided a statement to investigators consistent with his initial statement on the night of the incident."

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No charges have been filed at this time and the investigation remains active, as there are numerous interviews and other case-related work that needs to be done, the agency said.

Officers with the marshal's office and deputies with the Cherokee Sheriff's Office were dispatched to a call of an unresponsive dog the evening of Friday, June 10 at an address in unincorporated Cherokee County.

A preliminary investigation indicates Peabody arrived home around 4:15 p.m., turned off his car, allegedly left Inka in the rear of the patrol vehicle and went inside his home to attend to another dog, the marshal's office said.

Around 7 p.m., the officer remembered Inka was in the patrol vehicle, and made the grim discovery when he went outside to check on the pup.

Inka was Peabody's personal dog, but the Cherokee County School Board paid for its upkeep and maintenance, as it was employed by the system.

Return to Patch for updates.

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Photo: Lt. Dan Peabody with Inka. Credit: Cherokee County School District