New Jersey Man Accused Of Killing Girlfriend's Pets In Putnam County

LAKE PEEKSKILL, NY — A New Jersey man was arrested Wednesday by the Putnam County SPCA on accusations that he killed his girlfriend's pets one at a time over the course of a year.

They were three chihuahuas and a ferret.

The indictment against Matthew Savinovich, 27, charges him with one count of felony burglary, four counts of felony aggravated cruelty to animals, four counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty and four counts of felony criminal mischief.

The Norwood, New Jersey man was also charged with bail jumping, a class A misdemeanor, for failure to appear in Putnam Valley Court on other charges.

The SPCA accused Savinovich of killing his girlfriend’s pets over the course of their relationship from December 2019 to November 2020. Each time he was alone with the pet and had an excuse for its death.

The lengthy investigation ended with Savinovich surrendering to officers of the Putnam County SPCA Wednesday.

Savinovich was arraigned at the Putnam County Court and sent to Putnam County jail in lieu of $100,000 cash bail or $500,000 bond. The court issued an order of protection for the ex-girlfriend at his arraignment, said SPCA Chief Ken Ross.

A predicate felon with an extensive criminal record, he faces a minimum of five years in state prison, Ross said. Under New York Penal Law, a predicate felon is someone with a prior felony conviction from the past 10 years.

The lengthy investigation was a result of cooperation with the Putnam County District Attorney’s Office, Assistant District Attorney Nicholas LaStella, District Attorney’s Office Investigator Jaemie Caban, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, Investigator Paul Piazza, the Ossining Police Department, and Peekskill Police Department, said Ross.

"I would also like to thank the Norwood, NJ Police Department, Hackensack, NJ Police Department, Fair Lawn NJ Police Department and Northvale, NJ Police Department for their assistance. The cooperation and help we received from all these agencies was an invaluable resource," Ross said. "Studies have shown that those who commit animal cruelty eventually commit crimes against humans."

To report animal cruelty, call the Putnam County SPCA 24 Hour Hotline – 845-520-6915, or visit the website – www.spcaputnam.org.

Editor's Note: This article has been modified to define the term "predicate felon."