Three arrested in fatal dog stabbing

A brother and sister are in custody after they allegedly stabbed a family member’s dog to death at a home in Burbank.

Calling the bloody scene “pretty horrific,” Burbank police Lt. John Dilibert said Charissa Bodtcher, 23, and her brother, 18-year-old Timo Bodtcher, stabbed the older cocker spaniel mix “numerous” times with an 8-inch blade Saturday at their aunt’s home in the 200 block of East Cedar Avenue.

Police also arrested their mother, Maria Theresa Bodtcher, 47, after she allegedly helped them dispose of the knife near a dumpster at a shopping mall near Victory Boulevard and Vineland Avenue, Dilibert said.

Charissa Bodtcher, who had reportedly had run-ins with the dog before, had come over to do laundry, police said.

“It appears that when she’s come over the dog has tried to nip at her heels and has barked at her,” Dilibert said.

Prince, the dog, died of his wounds on the way to an animal shelter and detectives are working with the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office, Dilibert said.

All three face animal cruelty and related conspiracy charges and are being held in lieu of $20,000 bail each. They are scheduled to appear in a Burbank courtroom tomorrow.

-- Maria Hsin, Times Community News

Twitter: @mariahsin