Deputies: Murder suspect's dead dog still on chain in backyard | News

ORANGEBURG COUNTY, SC (WIS)- A man charged with murdering his girlfriend last week has also been hit with animal abuse charges after deputies discovered his dog deceased in the backyard of his Freedom Road home.

34-year-old Timothy Brown is charged with murdering his girlfriend, Kyllia Lynett Holback, 33, on Friday at his home in Branchville.

Deputies said he strangled and stabbed Holback several times.

According to an incident report, a deputy, while investigating the murder, noticed a dead dog still on its chain in the backyard. Another "extremely underweight" dog was also in the yard.

The deputy reported that two buckets of water near the dogs had mosquito larvae floating inside, but no food was seen anywhere.

Brown, according to the report, told the deputy that he did not know one of his dogs was dead and was unsure of when he last fed them.

The surviving dog was turned over to animal control.

Brown is charged with ill treatment of animals, abandonment of animals and murder. He was expected to appear in court Tuesday.

A second person was arrested and charged with accessory after the fact of murder. Brandon Marshell Tyler, 24, is accused of putting a knife in Holback's hand to make it look like a suicide.

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