BUTLER, Pa. — A Butler man is accused of killing a woman’s 10-year-old pug after she told him she no longer wanted to see him.
On Jan. 5, 2024., police were called to a home in Butler County for a burglary. According to the criminal complaint, the woman living there told officers nothing was missing except her dog.
She went on to tell police that the day prior she told a man named Joseph Hillard that she no longer wanted to be friends with him because he made her uncomfortable. She said she met Hillard on a dating app and he suffered from mental health issues.
A little over a week later, officers went to a home on Woodridge Road where they spoke with Hillard’s parents. They said the pug wasn’t in their home. Police said both parents confirmed that Hillard had mental health issues and could be capable of stealing the dog, but had no reason to believe he did.
Police learned that Hillard was staying with someone at a home in Slippery Rock. When they arrived, Hillard was there but the dog was not. He denied knowing anything.
The complaint states the investigation at that point was tabled due to a lack of evidence.
Over a year later on Jan. 25, 2025, Hillard arrived at the Butler City Police Station to confess that he broke into the victim’s home to steal and kill her dog. He was then given a form to provide a written statement.
Before leaving the station, he asked officers to tell the victim that he was the one responsible, according to the complaint.
In the written confession, Hillard allegedly said at one point he wanted to return the dog, but started “hitting it with rage” and eventually “took it to the woods and killed it.” He added his “apologies and condolences” to the victim and her family.
Hillard was told to return to the police station four days later and was arrested for burglary, aggravated cruelty to animals, tampering with evidence and theft of a movable item.
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