Man accused of killing dog during domestic dispute ordered to stand trial
Trista Thurston/Observer-Reporter
Trista Thurston/Observer-Reporter
Mark Allen Miller leaves his preliminary hearing before District Judge David Balint Monday.
WAYNESBURG – Nicole Spencer testified during her estranged boyfriend’s preliminary hearing Monday on animal cruelty charges that there was nothing she could do as she watched her dog bleed out.
Spencer testified against Mark Allen Miller, 56, of 161 Crabapple Valley Road, New Freeport, who is accused of shooting and killing Spencer’s dog during an argument at their shared residence in April.
Spencer said the two had been drinking throughout the day April 22 and they began to argue about 3 or 4 p.m. After Miller went to sleep, Spencer said she took a shower. Miller was awake by the time she finished, and the argument continued. Spencer testified Miller went outside, presumably to his vehicle for a gun, and then shot the dog while it was locked in the crate.
“I heard a click and he had shot my dog in the bathroom,” she testified. “I looked over and my dog was bleeding out everywhere.”
Spencer said she then tried to get the cage door open to render help.
“She laid there and suffered for almost 15 minutes,” she said. “There was nothing I could do.”
In the meantime, Spencer testified she took video and photos of the dog, which she provided to state police two days later. She emailed the photos of the dead pit bull mix in its crate to trooper Kristina Daerr, according to court documents.
“He left as soon as he shot her,” Spencer said of Miller. “The whole wall behind the cage was covered in BBs.”
Spencer said the crate was closed during the entire fight and the dog was not barking. She also said Miller hit her on the mouth, resulting in a cut upper lip.
During cross-examination from Miller’s attorney, Erick Rigby, Spencer said she was not physical with him at any point during the fight. Rigby also asked why Spencer waited two days to report the incident to police. She said Miller had taken her phone when he left.
Spencer was the only person to testify in court Monday.
District Judge David Balint ordered Miller to stand trial on all charges, including a felony aggravated cruelty to animals, as well as simple assault, reckless endangerment and harassment charges from the fight. Miller remains free on a $10,000 cash bond.