Beating Not Suspected in Dog's Death

A dog found dead in Moncks Corner last week likely wasn't beaten, according to investigators. The dog's death made news because it was owned by the family of a 9-year-old autistic girl.

The Berkeley County Sheriff's Office said a necropsy performed on the animal found no indication it had been beaten and that a forensic examination indicates that it's injuries were consistent with being hit by a car.

The family told ABC News 4's Natalie Caula that the dog had been missing for several days before he turned up in a nearby ditch. They believed at the time that he'd been beaten.

The Sheriff’s Office is waiting to interview some witnesses who were reported to have seen someone attempt to abduct the dog, said spokesman Dan Moon in a statement.

Meanwhile, Moon noted that the owner, 40-year-old Kelly Nolan of Moncks Corner, and 32 year old Stacey Lamont Altman of Moncks Corner were arrested Dec. 23 on unrelated charges of receiving stolen goods and obtaining property under false pretenses.

Altman was also allegedly in possession of a half of a gram of cocaine and charged with possession.