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 bastard has not been ‘indicted’ because the useless arseholes of the so-called Grand Jury, ( Grand Jury my arse) could not give a shit about animal cruelty and torture.
The tossers are just as bad if not worse for turning a ‘blind’eye!
As long as they have their bloody comfy lifestyles they could not care less.
And as for the arrogant fucker who ‘murdered’ these innocent trusting little dogs, I can only hope that someone or some group can watch the bastard and know where he goes. I’ll bet the fucker is feeling real pleased with himself.
The aswipe Jury has not got the guts to convict this prick so really needs dealing with – somewhat terminally I may add preferably on a nice dark night.
People power is the only way to stop bastards like this once and for all, and I am very sure that all, or anyone concerned with this shitbags demise would sleep very well afterwards.
Just make sure of a plan and DO NOT get caught.
Unfortunately I am thousands of miles away otherwise I would be stalking this wanker until he was ‘dead’. And I guarantee the prick would be begging me to finish him!
Preferably it would be brilliant if the bastard could be kicked off a bridge with a long drop and no water underneath.
The waste of space law will do NOTHING so it is up to us normal living people to make this happen. The maybe, the idiots in power would start to take notice!
Power to anyone who can rid the world of this air – thieving towrag. I might add very painfully if possible.
Such a piece of vermin has no right to live anymore. Drown that bitch!
Yeah assholes like this need to be kicked off the planet. They have no respect for anyone or anything and trust me…ppl will be next. Children maybe even who will die at this POS’s hands.
This kind of crap humans keep doing to animals. It makes Me so angry. Our country has and will continue to disappoint animals.
…so when we learn that Mr. Underwood has moved on to even more heinous crimes in the near future, we’ll know who and what to point back to.
SHAME on the “humans” who don’t make laws to protect these poor animals.
ANIMALS’ DIGNITY and RIGHTS are NOT respected and enforced, so this bastard wanders around to focus on new victims.
these animal abusers and animal killers shall rot in hell.
Concuerdo totalmente contigo Bernardo….A estos asesinos habría que hacerles lo mismo que ellos le hicieron a estos cachorritos!!!!
I’m from Tennessee, but now reside in Georgia, Tennessee is without a doubt the MOSTbackward, good ole boys state in the union. That being said how does someone get away with this shit, puppies are living being too, shame on you Mr. Gardenhire, you’re a pitiful specimen of a human!!!
Burn in hell you sickening and repulsive animal abuser!
Things need to change. Today, criminals are set free too easily and victims are treated like criminals. Animals need to be better protected against killers and abusers. These evil people end up going after children and others because they know nothing will happen to them. This is wrong! Tougher laws and the death penalty need to be brought back to get law and order back in our great country!
I strongly agree with everyone that this monster deserves to die! Nobody has a right to hurt or kill precious fur babies. As a cat mom, this really infuriates me!
THIS IS SUCH A DISGRACE THAT THIS PIECE OF SHIT SHOULD WALK FREE AFTER COMMITTING SUCH A HEINOUS CRIME OF ANIMAL ABUSE AND CRUELTY. HOPEFULLY SOMEONE WILL TAKE THE LAW INTO THEIR OWN HANDS BECAUSE THESE PUPPIES NEED JUSTICE.
Are you kidding me?????? Again…. Are you kidding me?! Send that POS to California- it’s nothing but a bunch of men that rule and make laws globally and a piss poor job at that. Inept, idiots, that rape, murder, kill, commit heinous crimes, on and on and on…….
I am sick of this garbage. May he rot in hell where he belongs. Probably can’t read or write either. Ignorant educated not needed human on this planet.
In a just and right society this bastard would be tossed off a bridge!
WTF?? Some people just have no right to breathe!!! This POS and the grand jury qualify. It’s no wonder the South, with Tennessee’s help, lost the war!! That special place in Hell is waiting.
I would like to know how this human can do to puppies or any animal just no justify to this situation. What is wrong with humans they for one thing should have a punishment for this cruelty I do not understand why there is no punishment for things like this act that was done to these poor puppies my heart goes out for them
A animal lover must do the world a favor & throw Underwood off a bridge! The grand jury such & I wish bad luck & karma on them all!! 💔💔💔💔💔💔
drown his sick hillbilly ass!!!
Evil man!!!
Rest in peace Lil ones 😞
these low income states really show their stupidity. this man is a known criminal and he has struck again. I think the grand jury, judge and the offender should all be put in jail for a lengthy period of time, no plea deals and have a huge fine given to all of them. while they are sitting in jail, maybe they can think about their actions. Not that they really care. Our legal system fails again. Poor dear puppies. I wonder where the mother dog is.
Some people doesn’t deserve the oxygen I wish they die the worst way!
I’m so sorry those innocent puppies died after being thrown off a bridge. Tyler Underwood is a low-down, snake in the grass for what he did to those puppies. He should have been in jail as they’re were charges pending against him. He’s gotten away to commit other offenses. Tennessee needs to revamp their grand jury process. It the majority says to indict, they should indict. This case of animal cruelty needs to be revisited and Tyler Underwood charged and punished. I glad one of the puppies survived and I hope it fully recovers. As for the fur babies who died, may they rest in peace and I hope they get justice.
Anyone want to make a million bucks? Then hunt this mother-fucker down, put him in a cage, pour gasoline all over him and set him on fire. Don’t forget to video tape it and put it on Pay-Per-View and I bet you could make a million bucks charging animal loving people to see the video. I would gladly pay a $100.00 to see the video. His screams would be music to my ears. Have a Nice Day!!!!!!!!!!
With you 100% brother. Great minds etc!!