4th person charged in shooting death of pit bull mix in North Huntingdon

A fourth person was arrested Wednesday because officials say he fatally shot the dog discovered muzzled and tied to a railroad post this summer in North Huntingdon.

John W. Harrold, 50, of North Huntingdon was arraigned before District Judge Wayne Gongaware on animal cruelty and conspiracy charges filed by CSX police. Harrold was ordered to the county prison after failing to post $50,000 bail pending a preliminary hearing Dec. 18.

In October, Ashley Nichole Kunkle, 30, her mother, Sandra D. Cancino, 55, both of Yukon, and her boyfriend Anthony Keith Harper, 28, of Irwin, were charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, conspiracy, animal neglect and related offenses in connection with the dog’s death.

CSX police reported that when Harrold was initially questioned, he denied knowing the others or shooting the dog, CSX Special Agent Royce Capehart said. But after an investigation, police suspect Harrold was the shooter.

Brutus, a 1-year-old pit bull mix, was found in mid-August along railroad tracks off Turner Valley Road. Humane agents said the dog was tied by a leash to the post.

Agents from All But Furgotten sought help from the public to identify those responsible.

Court documents filed by Capehart said the dog was shot three times.

Investigators said the animal’s owner left it with Cancino during a four-day trip out of town. Brutus apparently bit one of Kunkle’s children, and Cancino planned to have it euthanized, according to court papers.

After the bite incident, Kunkle said she didn’t want the dog at her mother’s house, and Harper threatened to shoot it, Cancino told investigators.

Harper’s cellphone was pinged on a cell tower Aug. 8 about two miles from where the dog’s body was found, according to court papers.

Capehart said in court documents that after Harrold denied knowing the trio charged or ever seeing the dog, he obtained text messages exchanged between Harper and Harrold implicating Harrold in the shooting.

When advised of the evidence, Capehart said “Harrold gave a statement in which he admits that he shot the dog three times and that he was offered money from Mr. Harper for killing the dog.”

Cancino, Harper and Kunkle are awaiting trial.