BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – The boyfriend of a woman mauled to death protecting her dog is now being accused himself of animal cruelty, according to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office.
Last week, deputies revealed that they were investigating after three dog’s were found in a trailer belonging to the boyfriend, identified as Donnell Smith.
Deputies also said they got a tip of a horrible odor coming from the camper, which initially kicked off the investigation.
[RELATED: 3 dogs found dead in trailer after fatal attack in Brevard County]
On Monday, Brevard Sheriff Wayne Ivey announced that Smith had been arrested, and the sheriff explained what exactly happened.
“Folks, it doesn’t get any sadder than this,” Ivey said. “Look at all the lives that have been lost, all the lives that have been impacted by this. It simply comes down to people not taking care of the pets they’re responsible for.”
According to investigators, Smith claimed the stench had come from a dog he buried, though it was eventually revealed that Smith had actually left the dogs inside the trailer for days without food, water or ventilation.
This case comes on the heels of the death of Smith’s girlfriend, Jodi Cowan, who was killed last month in a dog attack near her home in Cocoa.
[RELATED: Brevard County sheriff discusses deadly dog attack in Central Florida]
Investigators previously said two dogs attacked the 50-year-old woman. Authorities later arrested 29-year-old Linda Cutler and charged her with manslaughter in connection with Cowan’s death.
Meanwhile, Smith now faces charges of animal abandonment, keeping animals enclosed without exercise and air, confining an animal without sufficient food or water, and animal cruelty.