Recardo Jerome Robert Futrell, 36, of Fort Washington, was summoned to appear in the Maryland District Court for Calvert County on August 26, 2024. Futrell is charged with eight counts of cruelty to animals, all of which are classified as misdemeanors. He was ordered to appear for a preliminary examination on October 21, 2024.
According to court documents, the charges against Futrell include four counts of cruelty to animals, two counts of causing or permitting cruelty to animals and three counts of failure to provide proper care. Each of those counts is punishable by up to 90 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine.
The charges stem from an incident on August 11, 2024, when a small dog was found in a large dumpster at Mutual Elementary School on Ball Road in Port Republic. The dog, a “shorkie” named Prada, was reportedly found alive but in distress by a sanitation worker who immediately contacted the Calvert County Control Center. Animal Control Officer Bell-Bussler arrived on the scene and took the dog to a shelter for treatment.
The dog’s fur was matted and wet and had bright pink patches, possibly due to chemical exposure from cleaning products from the dumpster. The dog also smelled strongly of urine, indicating poor living conditions prior to its abandonment.
The investigation, led by Detective Yates of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office, included the review of surveillance footage from the school. The footage allegedly shows a black Ford Fusion, later identified as Futrell’s vehicle, driving into the school parking lot around 6:00 p.m. on August 11, 2024. A short black male wearing a white tank top was observed throwing a grocery bag, believed to contain the dog, into the dumpster.
Detective Yates also discovered that Futrell had been staying at a home on Church Road where the missing dog Prada lived. Interviews with residents, including Futrell’s fiancée, who is the dog’s owner, revealed that Futrell was involved in a domestic dispute with her on the day of the incident. According to the dog’s owner, Futrell was alone with Prada in the home when the dog disappeared. She also identified Futrell as the person on school surveillance footage.
On August 22, 2024, Detective Yates and another officer visited Futrell at his parents’ home in Fort Washington, where Futrell agreed to an interview. During the recorded interview, Futrell initially claimed that the dog escaped from the house. However, when confronted with the surveillance footage, Futrell admitted to taking the dog and throwing it in the dumpster. He confessed to leaving the dog there out of anger after an argument with his fiancée. Futrell stated, “I did it to hurt her because she told me to kill myself.” He also mentioned that he was under the influence of alcohol at the time and was not thinking clearly.
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