Vicasso Lara reportedly tortured his pet dog, before baking it in a hot oven (Pictures: Lee County Sheriff’s Office)

An animal abuser tortured a dog before baking the animal to death in a roasting oven, police say. Vicasso Lara, 24, reportedly killed the pet at his home in Lehigh Acres, Florida, on Friday night.

Deputies from Lee County Sheriff’s Office who were called to the scene discovered several pools of blood outside a house, with bloodied footprints leading to the rear entrance of the home. Worried deputies obtained a search warrant to get into the property.

Once inside, they were appalled to discover a dog baking inside the home’s oven, which had been turned to the highest setting. Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said: ‘I’m speechless. This is possibly the most brutal and horrific example of animal abuse my team or I have ever seen. We will pursue the absolute maximum punishment for this horrific crime.’



A subsequent investigation revealed the dog had been stabbed, bludgeoned and brutalized multiple times before being put inside the oven. Deputies were called out to the scene after receiving reports that Lara had been threatening people inside the home.


Lee County Sheriff’s Office Press Release: Dog Brutally Killed in Lehigh AcresOn Friday, April 3, 2020, at approximately 10:00 pm, Lee County Sheriffâs Office deputies conducted a well-being check at a single-family residence in the 4500 block of 20th Street SW, Lehigh Acres.Initial information indicated that a subject, later identified as Vicasso Lara, (DOB 10-06-1995) was present at the 20th Street SW location, and that Lara had been threatening people at a residence located in the 100 block of East 11th Street, Lehigh Acres, where Lara had reportedly also killed his dog.âIâm speechless,â stated Sheriff Carmine Marceno. âThis is possibly the most brutal and horrific example of animal abuse my team or I have ever seen. We will pursue the absolute maximum punishment for this horrific crime.âAfter speaking with Lara and a witness, deputies responded to the 11th Street SW residence, where deputies observed several pools of blood outside the residence and bloody footprints near the rear entrance to the home.LCSO detectives obtained and immediately executed a search warrant for the 11th Street SW residence, where detectives and crime scene technicians discovered the body of a dog in the kitchen oven, which had been turned to its highest setting.The investigation revealed Lara had stabbed the dog numerous times, beaten the animal with a bludgeon, and otherwise brutalized the dog prior to having placed it in the oven.Based on facts revealed during the investigation, Lara was arrested and charged with violation of Florida Statute 828.12(2) Torture/Inflict Pain/Serious Physical Injury/Death upon an animal.Deputies booked Lara to the Lee County Jail, where he is being held without bond, pending his initial court appearance. Geplaatst door Lee County Sheriff’s Office op Zaterdag 4 april 2020

They have yet to uncover a motive for the horrific animal torture.

Lara has now been charged with animal torture, and is being held in Lee County Jail without bond until his next court appearance.