Follow-up: Austin man accused of murdering boyfriend also charged with animal cruelty
AUSTIN -- A man accused of beating his boyfriend and leaving him with injuries that led to his death is also being charged with cruelty to animals for strangling the victim’s dog, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.
Bryan Canchola, 20, got into a fight with his boyfriend Stephen Sylvester, 18, at their home in the GrandMarc Apartments in the early hours of July 17, according to the affidavit. Sylvester later died at an area hospital from a wound to the head that resulted from the fight, the affidavit said. Canchola was charged with his murder, the document said.
The couple’s roommate told police he heard the couple fighting loudly in their bedroom that day, and at one point heard Sylvester’s 5-year-old Yorkshire terrier Harlow cry out in pain, according to the affidavit. The roommate also heard Sylvester yelling at Canchola to “Let the dog go,” the affidavit says.
The roommate took Sylvester, who was bleeding from a head wound, to the hospital, but before they left Canchola yelled at Sylvester, “When you’re gone you better hope I don’t find your dog… I’m going to kill it,” the roommate told police, according to the affidavit.
Read more: http://www.statesman.com/news/news/crime-law/man-accused-of-murdering-boyfriend-also-charged-wi/nm6RN/
Earlier thread:
Gay Austin Teen’s Horrific Murder Highlights Hidden Problem Of LGBT Domestic Violence
