Dog stolen and left in hot truck
A FedEx driver, Kimani Joehon Marshall, allegedly stole a $5,500 French bulldog named Tori from a North Carolina family and left the pet in his hot truck, where it died while he completed his delivery route. Marshall, now an ex-employee, is accused of taking the championship show dog with the intent to breed it.
Intent to breed
Marshall, 44, reportedly knew Tori’s owners and had previously asked to breed the dog with one of his own. The owners had declined his offer. On July 3, Marshall allegedly took Tori from her yard while delivering packages in the neighborhood.
Tori’s family frantically searched the nearby woods and posted missing dog flyers around town, but the dog was believed to have already died by then. Their fears were confirmed on July 7 when deputies from the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office found Tori dead.
Death by heatstroke
Investigators believe Tori died of heatstroke or a related illness from the scorching temperatures inside the truck while Marshall continued his delivery route. The dog was found dead in Marshall’s truck.
Legal Consequences
Marshall surrendered to authorities and was charged with larceny of a dog, possession of stolen goods, and cruelty to animals. He was held on a $50,000 bond.
FedEx confirmed that Marshall is no longer employed by the company. “We extend our deepest sympathies to the family on the loss of their beloved pet,” FedEx said in a statement. “We understand the importance of people’s pets in their lives and deeply regret the pain that this has caused. The driver is no longer providing service on behalf of FedEx.”