Columbia County authorities have arrested a couple who allegedly stole a dog from the home of an Evans pediatrician just before Christmas.
James Crumpley, 47, and Emily Cutlip, 55, were charged Tuesday with felony theft by taking in the Dec. 22 dog theft.
According to a sheriff’s report, the suspects were working Dec. 22 as painters on a home near the residence of the victim, Dr. Margaret Renew, who is a well-known pediatrician. The victim said she had friends and family over when her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dog named “JoJo” went missing.
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A tracking dog came out and tracked the scent of “JoJo” over to the neighbor’s home, where a worker seemed “disinterested” when asked if he had seen her dog, a report says.
Dr. Renew and her husband, Tom Renew, posted about the missing animal and offered a reward. The animal was dropped off Tuesday at 15th street and Morgan Street in Augusta and the suspects arrested the same day. Online posts of the victims being reunited shows Dr. Renew in tears as she hugs those who helped in the search.
A sheriff’s report lists the suspects’ home address as 1049 Ridge Spring Highway in Ward, S.C., and says they work as painters for a home building company out of North Augusta.
Greg Rickabaugh is the Jail Report contributor for The Augusta Press. Reach him at greg.rickabaugh@theaugustapress.com
