Teen accused of killing step-dad’s dog in retaliation

January 13, 2016 5:48 pm

By: Rebecca Turco

Email: rturco@abc6.com

RICHMOND, R.I. – A West Warwick teenager is accused of killing his step-dad’s little dog in Richmond and recording the entire thing.

Police say Christian Bartoshevich, 18, wanted to send some sort of twisted message to a family member. He is charged with felony killing of an animal.

"It’s a little unnerving and certainly upsetting to the family," explained Chief Elwood Johnson with the Richmond Police Department.

Bartoshevich’s stepdad told police the teen killed the small white terrier to “get back at his sister,” according to the police report. A witness told the stepdad that Bartoshevich confessed to killing the dog and to recording it on his cell phone. The witness never saw the alleged video.

Police believe the phone was later destroyed. “The fact that you would do it to hurt another person by taking something that they love and care for and then kill it, and then record it for whatever purpose – it just exacerbates the heinous nature,” Johnson told ABC6 News.

Bartoshevich has a record in West Warwick, with numerous charges like breaking and entering, felony assault and vandalism.

Police aren’t releasing exactly how the dog died, but say they have enough evidence to pin it to Bartoshevich. “Circumstantially, we’re satisfied that the charge is accurate."

Bartoshevich isn’t legally allowed on his stepdad’s property anymore. He is out on bond and faces up to two years in jail.