Target: Todd Gardenhire, Chair of Tennessee Senate Committee on the Judiciary
Goal: End unjust grand jury process that seemingly favors criminals over both human and non-human crime victims.
National Pet Day is a celebration of the animals that become beloved members of families, but it’s also a stark reminder of the millions of unwanted animals that become victims of abuse, neglect, or abandonment. The latter, an often underreported and forgotten offense, allegedly played out to a tragic end in Tennessee. A tote was discovered near a bridge. Inside this bag, which had apparently been tossed from the bridge, were six puppies. Only one was alive. It is believed the young pups may have met their grim fate on Christmas Day.
A 24-year-old suspect, Tyler Underwood, was eventually apprehended and could have been charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty. The suspect also apparently faced accusations of theft and probation violation. Despite these alleged crimes, this suspect will not only be free from any potential punishment. He will not even have a trial.
Underwood was not indicted by a Tennessee grand jury, which sets a notoriously high bar for indictments. In the majority of states, a grand jury is not even needed to bring formal criminal charges. And in the states where the grand jury process is required, most set the bar for indictment at a majority. In Tennessee’s case, however, if only two of the 13 jurors dissent then the charges will not move forward. As a result, Underwood, like so many other potential defendants—especially in low-priority cases like animal cruelty—never has to answer for the offenses of which he is accused.
Sign the petition below to demand this state’s lawmakers amend a process that works against victims and survivors of violent crimes.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Senator Gardenhire,
“A grand jury would indict a ham sandwich.” Tennessee proves that not all old adages have a ring of truth. Recently, two dissenters in a Morgan County grand jury spared a man accused of throwing weeks-old puppies off a bridge to their deaths from criminal charges. The man in question is also reportedly under investigation for other crimes, but now he is apparently free and in the clear.
Why is the bar set higher in this state for victims and survivors to get justice than almost anywhere else in the country? The grand jury process does not end with a conviction or a sentence. It is a formal bringing of charges. The standards for an indictment are therefore much less rigorous than the unanimous consent required for a traditional jury…except in Tennessee, where two dissenters (just like in the aforementioned case) can grind the wheels of justice to a halt.
Please reevaluate and revise this defective portion of Tennessee’s criminal system so that the scales of justice are truly balanced for all.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Sergio Souza
This is why the public needs to have the names of the Grand Jury (grand my big ole butt) – the ones that didn’t vote to charge him should be put on a watch list!
I just love waking up to news like this.. sigh. First email I click on is about puppies being murdered (yes, murdered.. you don’t have to be a human to be murdered) & there are no repercussions for it? I am so, so sick & tired of animals not receiving the respect & justice they deserve. If anything, there should be stricter laws for animal cruelty & killings bc they cannot SPEAK up for themselves! There is no reason this clown couldn’t have dropped them off at a shelter with a note. Even THAT while irritating, would’ve been a better ending for these pure, sweet innocent souls. Rest in peace babies. We won’t stop fighting for you.
This is unacceptable. Everyone in law enforcement down to the judge and jury need to be fired. It makes me sick that someone could do something so despicable and not be punished . As we hold these criminals accountable so should the judges to . They all need to be kicked out of their offices . This is why people still do disgusting things to animals. Because nothing happens to them. Disgraceful!!!!!!!
You are soooo right! They get off without so much as even a warning and why our country’s justice system needs to be updated, right along with those who supposedly are there to uphold and protect!!! Obviously the judges and any persons connected to our so called legal system need to find “new employment opportunities” since they are incapable of, and ARE NOT doing their jobs!!! Move them out and force them to find other avenues of employment!!!!
Won’t face any chargers??? This Fuck’n pirce of shit should be tortured till he’s DEAD!!! This world we live in Fuck’n sucks!!! RIP poor puppies!!!
What a joke, why not just give him a medal too? Tennessee is turning into another cesspool, no accountability and treating animals like lawn chairs to just throw off bridges on a whim with no consequences. This action is the same as condoning and encouraging animal abuse, it’s dereliction of duty and it makes the entire state look like Florida and Texas. SHAME ON YOU
Another malicious and disgusting Act of Cruelty from a southern state. How anyone with a good conscience and a civil mind can live down in the south is beyond me. They could offer me a $10 million home for free and I wouldn’t move. And this bastard isn’t being prosecuted for anything? The insensitive, ignorant and racist people of the South can never surprise me with their actions. This bastard needs to be behind bars or he needs to be thrown off the same Bridge he threw those puppies off of. The government of this country is getting sicker and sicker by the day especially in southern states governed by republicans. All those good Christian republicans! I’m sorry more of them who didn’t want to get vaccinated during the pandemic didn’t leave the planet.
This piece of crap should be put in a barrel and thrown off Niagara falls with the lid sealed shut This sounds like a New York story where creatin’s run the show and victims don’t get a say
We no longer have laws in this country, or should I say we might as well not !!! Hardly anyone pays for crimes committed because no one enforces laws to make law breakers pay! Plus they are letting people in the prisons walk free. What can we do ??? I feel we ate doomed !!!
We are
TN SHOULD BE REMOVED AS PART OF THE US IF THEIR NOT GOING TO UPHOLD OUR LAWS AND REGULATIONS TO VIOLATORS!!! THIS IS APPALLING!! I MEAN DON’T ACT OF THESE LEGAL PEOPLE HAVE PETS!!!??? I AGREE WITH ALL OF YOU WHO SAID THESE USELESS GOVERNMENT FUCKS SHOULD BE THROWN OFF THE BRIDE WITH THE GUY WHO DID THIS!!!! IN FACT THEY SHOULD ALL BE MADE TO WALK THROUGH THE ANGRY MOB OF PEOPLE ON THIS PETTITION, TIED UP AND THROWN OFF A BRIDGE TO THEIR DEATHS JUST LIKE THAT BASTARD DID TO THESE POOR PUPPIES!!! ALL OF THEM!! BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WHO LET THESE PURE EVIL ASSHOLES WALK AFTER SOMETHING LIKE THIS ARE AS GUILTY AS THE PERPETRATORS!!!! WHAT WE NEED IS TO GET AN OFFICE PHONE NUMBER OF AS MANY PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THIS AS POSSIBLE AND LEAVE CONSTANT REMINDERS OF HOW THIS NEEDS TO BE PUNISHED!! LET THEM KNOW WE’RE WATCHING THEM ALL THE TIME AND IF THEY DOUBT DO SOMETHING TO FIX THIS THEY WILL CONTINUE TO SUFFER UNENDING SCRUTINY FROM THE PUBLIC IN ALL STATES INCLUDED. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE CALL THE MEDIA IN TN?? ANY TIME SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS IN OH THERE ARE SEVERAL TEAMS OF US THAT CALL THE TV STATIONS,THE POLICE, OUR LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT AND HARRASS OR PLEAD *WHICHEVER WORKS* AND WE’VE ACTUALLY BEEN ABLE TO BRING A LOT OF AWARENESS TO OUR COMMUNITY!!! BELIEVE ME IT WORKS! I LOVE THESE PETTITIONS BUT MORE ACTION IS NEEDED! SO EVERYONE KEEP A VIGILANT EYE ON YOUR COMMUNITY AND FORCE THESE UNFEELING UNCARING PEOPLETO DO THE RIGHT THING TO THESE OFFENDERS!!!!AND I KNOW THERE IS A SPECIAL PLACE IN HELL FOR THESE PEOPLE.
I couldnt agree more
This is what I say constantly-We have an animal abuse law on the books and judges, lawyers, lawmakers and juries are JUST as responsble for these aniamls agonizing deaths as is the actual twisted abuser when they allow them to go free. Get a spine and throw such vile scum in jail instead of supporting the abusers!!!!!!!!!!!
My heart aches for the terror these puppies experienced and their lives lost because of this psychopath. The people who allowed him to walk freely are just as guilty as the psychopath.
HOW CRUEL CAN A HUMAN BEING ARE???? NO THIS IS NOT A HUMAN BEING. THIS IS A MONSTER. GIVE HIM THE SAME PUNISHMENT AS HE DID WHITH THOSE INNOCENT PUPPIES. WHY WILL HE NOT HAVE ANY PUNISHMENT. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THIS??????
TennASSee…kinda says it all.
Thro him off a bridge!!!!
Boycott Tennessee (you probably are anyway)for animal cruelty!!!!
I TOTALLY AGREE WITH Julie
“ TN SHOULD BE REMOVED AS PART OF THE US IF THEIR NOT GOING TO UPHOLD OUR LAWS AND REGULATIONS TO VIOLATORS!!! THIS IS APPALLING!! I MEAN DON’T ACT OF THESE LEGAL PEOPLE HAVE PETS!!!??? I AGREE WITH ALL OF YOU WHO SAID THESE USELESS GOVERNMENT FUCKS SHOULD BE THROWN OFF THE BRIDE WITH THE GUY WHO DID THIS!!!! IN FACT THEY SHOULD ALL BE MADE TO WALK THROUGH THE ANGRY MOB OF PEOPLE ON THIS PETTITION, TIED UP AND THROWN OFF A BRIDGE TO THEIR DEATHS JUST LIKE THAT BASTARD DID TO THESE POOR PUPPIES!!! ALL OF THEM!! BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WHO LET THESE PURE EVIL ASSHOLES WALK AFTER SOMETHING LIKE THIS ARE AS GUILTY AS THE PERPETRATORS!!!! WHAT WE NEED IS TO GET AN OFFICE PHONE NUMBER OF AS MANY PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THIS AS POSSIBLE AND LEAVE CONSTANT REMINDERS OF HOW THIS NEEDS TO BE PUNISHED!! LET THEM KNOW WE’RE WATCHING THEM ALL THE TIME AND IF THEY DOUBT DO SOMETHING TO FIX THIS THEY WILL CONTINUE TO SUFFER UNENDING SCRUTINY FROM THE PUBLIC IN ALL STATES INCLUDED. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE CALL THE MEDIA IN TN?? ANY TIME SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS IN OH THERE ARE SEVERAL TEAMS OF US THAT CALL THE TV STATIONS,THE POLICE, OUR LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT AND HARRASS OR PLEAD *WHICHEVER WORKS* AND WE’VE ACTUALLY BEEN ABLE TO BRING A LOT OF AWARENESS TO OUR COMMUNITY!!! BELIEVE ME IT WORKS! I LOVE THESE PETTITIONS BUT MORE ACTION IS NEEDED! SO EVERYONE KEEP A VIGILANT EYE ON YOUR COMMUNITY AND FORCE THESE UNFEELING UNCARING PEOPLETO DO THE RIGHT THING TO THESE OFFENDERS!!!!AND I KNOW THERE IS A SPECIAL PLACE IN HELL FOR THESE PEOPLE..” JUSTICE MUST “PUNISH ALL ABUSERS” ANIMALS AN CHILDREN,,,, IMMEDIATELY !!!!
Exactly. You are 100% right.
This piece of shit should have been jailed but he walks free and clear , do others see something wrong with our justice system? Evil, heartless cruel bastard will commit future acts of evil and get away with it. So sick of these scum getting away with all sorts of crime and the do Gooders out there think this is OK. Those innocent puppies did not deserve that horrific act of cruelty and I want to see justice served for the voiceless.
These Bastards are Heartless trash!!! Still in their old country ignorant ways!!!! Lowlifes who believe they’re above all!!! Poor babies!! It’s not they’re fault for being born!! You blame the nice humans for not spaying and neutering!! That’s why I will never respect the human race!!
this son of a bitch should have his ass kicked all over the street. justice in the courts seems to be fading away, so what happens to the victims. they are victims a second time when the piece of shit walks. these so called jurors need to get a taste of the shit they unleash on people and animals alike, maybe then they may think twice but i doubt it. if you can turn a blind eye to this kind of behavior they are just as worthless as the asshole who did this.
TORTURE/KILL THE COCKSUCKING ANIMALABUSER AND THE LAWMAKERS/PARTIES COMPLICIT IN CREATING/ENACTI G THESE EVIL/SADISTIC/IMMORAL LAWS, AS WELL!!!💪🇺🇲RENEE CARIGLIA
He had options for the little babies and they did not include killing them. Take them to a shelter, give them away but you decided to subject them to a terrible death! I don’t understand why this idiot is not facing cruelty charges!
So Tennessee will reap all the disruption comimg to it , because it is unjust and cruel…one can barely imagine the consequenses that will emerge from the unity of God and man on this case….