Police arrest Hartselle man for beating dog to death

By Charles Whisenat 

For the Enquirer  

A Hartselle man has been arrested by Arab police after he allegedly beat a dog to death.  

James Whitley, 44, of Hartselle is charged with cruelty to animals, a felony. The incident occurred at a residence in the 100 block of 10th St. NW April 5.  

Whitley was arrested April 13 following the Arab Police Department investigation. He was booked at Arab City Jail and later transferred to Marshall County Jail, where he later was released on bond.  

“We took a report from the victim, who lives in Arab,” APD Chief Shane Washburn said. “The victim is the dog’s owner.”  

The alleged victim, Jill Burgett, identified herself to a Huntsville TV news reporter. Burgett said Whitley is her ex-boyfriend. She said Whitley told her he beat the dog to death and told her where she could find the dog’s remains.  

Burgett said she came home and Jax, her 3-year-old Jack Russell terrier, didn’t greet her like he normally would. In her bedroom, she said she found blood evidence and a bloody rag in her garage.  

She said Whitley told her he beat the dog to death with a wrench. She said she found the dog on the side of the road in the Hartselle area three days later, in a duffel bag she identified as Whitley’s.  

This article originally appeared in The Arab Tribune and is republished in the Enquirer with permission.