Blasting News reported the story of 23-year-old Marinna Rollins, an Army veteran who tied her therapy dog Cam to a tree while she and her boyfriend took turns video taping and shooting the dog, while apparently partying. Rollins was out on $25,000 bail after being charged with animal cruelty and conspiracy by the Cumberland County Sheriff’s office back in April. Rollins was found dead in her apartment early on Sunday morning of an apparent suicide.
Army vet who shot her dog commits suicide
As reported by the New York Daily News, Rollins was found dead early Sunday morning in her apartment, located at Netherfield Place in Fayetteville.
Police are now investigating her death as a likely suicide. According to Fayetteville Police Lt. Todd Joyce, friends of the army veteran found her body in her apartment at approximately 3 a.m. on Sunday morning. As noted by The Fayetteville Observer, Rollins' family was immediately notified of her death by police.
Veteran and boyfriend filmed shooting of her PTSD therapy dog https://t.co/PusFcGwpL6
— Anne King (@inthemedia1) May 13, 2017
Rollins took in the therapy dog to help with her PTSD
According to the arrest documents, Rollins was medically retired from the Army in January due to her post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). She took over in terms of caring for the dog from her former husband, who adopted him from an animal shelter.
He gave the dog (who he named Huey), to Rollins when he returned to duty in South Korea. Rollins changed the dog’s name to Camboui (or Cam for short) and had him registered as a therapy dog. According to her friends and family, Rollins was suffering from PTSD after a traumatizing incident that happened in South Korea during her time there.
Rollins tried to find the dog a new home, but shot him instead
According to Facebook posts, she did attempt to find the dog a new home in April but was evidently unsuccessful. Rollins posted a video on Facebook in mid-April showing her and her boyfriend, 25-year-old Jarren Heng, tying the therapy dog to a tree. The pair then took turns shooting the dog, while video taping each other.
Both parties could be heard giggling and laughing and they appeared to be drinking alcohol as they shot the dog with five bullets. Once he was dead, Rollins dragged Cam to a shallow grave the couple dug, in a wooded area in Harnett County.
The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office found the video and charged Rollins and her boyfriend, an Army special operations soldier, over the crime. Heng is also out on bail of $25,000. His next court hearing is scheduled for May 16.
