Cranston Police Announce No Further Charges in Death of Knox, the English Bulldog

Colonel Michael Winquist, Chief of the Cranston Police Department, announces that there will be no further charges lodged against a dog trainer in connection with the death of Knox, the English Bulldog.

After a joint investigation between the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RISPCA) and the Cranston Police, it was learned that the trainer, Amelia Ferreira, had originally concealed the death of the dog. In a subsequent interview, she later admitted to Cranston Police and members of the RISPCA that the dog died while in her care, and did not escape, as she originally reported to Wrentham, MA Police.

During the investigation, members of the RISPCA located the deceased dog inside Ferreira’s home. The RISPCA contracted with a veterinary lab in Connecticut to perform a necropsy on the animal. Official results of the necropsy proved inconclusive due advanced autolysis. However, no evidence of trauma was observed on full body radiography. Due to the lack of conclusive evidence from the necropsy, no further charges can be filed at this time.

Colonel Winquist stated “We appreciate the strong working relationship that the Cranston Police Dept. has traditionally had with the RISPCA and while this certainly is not the ending any of us had hoped for, we do hope that the information gathered during the investigation will assist in bringing some closure to the Mayo family during this sad time.”

If anyone has any further information concerning this investigation, they should contact Investigator Joe Warzycha of the RISPCA at (401) 438-8150 or Det. Paula Duffy of the Cranston Police Dept. at (401) 942-2211