Puppy killer not fit for trial

A Douglas County man, 30-year-old Josiah Wheat of Vanzant, accused of beating several puppies to death with a baseball bat in a video that went viral on social media, has been found to be mentally incompetent to stand trial.

According to Ozark Radio News, online court records indicate Wheat was committed to the department of mental health by Judge R. Craig Carter during court proceedings in Douglas County on April 3rd.

Wheat was originally charged with five counts of felony animal abuse, but was later ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office received calls from across the country after Wheat posted the video, and it went viral on social media. Wheat was arrested on August 31st, after a traffic stop near Mountain Grove, where police say the baseball bat used in the video was found in the vehicle.

A probable cause statement for the case states Wheat posted a video of himself with the puppies before and after beating them to death.

   

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