Man Arrested For Allegedly Killing, Beheading Roommate's Dog As She Was Moving Out

BUCKEYE, AZ — An Arizona man has been arrested after police say he beheaded his roommate's dog while she moved out of the home that they shared — and then stuffed the headless body inside one of her moving boxes.

Jose Vega Meza, 21, is facing two charges of animal cruelty, according to a release from the Buckeye Police Department.

Police said the female roommate was moving her things out of the apartment when she noticed that her dog had not been seen in a while. A few hours later, Vega Meza was spotted allegedly attempting to sneak a box onto her moving truck. When she asked what was inside, police say he allegedly "smiled" and refused to answer.

“When the victim opened the box, she found her dead, mutilated, headless dog inside,” police said.

Witnesses say that the woman became hysterical, according to AZFamily.com. The victim told officers that she was so distraught from the incident that she did not report it to police until the following day.

Investigators arrested Vega Meza on Sunday afternoon. Police said he admitted to investigators that he had killed the dog, and told authorities that he had done it because the woman owed his mother rent money. His mother owned the property where they had been living, according to reports.

Vega Meza allegedly told police that he'd wrapped the dog in a string and then cut it open with a razor blade. Despite admitting to the terrible deed and explaining how he allegedly committed it, Vega Meza refused to tell authorities where the dog's head was.

Police said Vega Meza also admitted to them that he'd killed other neighborhood pets, including a cat by trapping it and pouring extremely hot water on it before beating it to death, according to ABC15.

According to reports, Vega Meza has also been charged with misdemeanor assault after allegedly attacking another prisoner at the jail.

Court records did not list an attorney for Vega Meza, and he remains behind bars on a $20,000 bond, according to Fox News.

Read more: Fox News, ABC15, AZ Family