Suspect charged with petit theft after investigation into death of pet pig

Release from Alachua County Sheriff’s Office

HAWTHORNE, Fla. – On Friday, May 22, 2026, a Hawthorne resident contacted the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office regarding their pet Vietnamese Potbellied Pig, Gemma, who had been killed after leaving her property.

Deputies met with the owner and learned that Gemma had gone missing from their home in the 21600 block of SE 65th Avenue during the morning hours of Thursday, May 21, 2026. After discovering she was missing, the owner posted on social media seeking information about her whereabouts. Through those efforts, the owner learned Gemma had last been seen near Shell Elementary School.

While searching the area on May 21st and May 22nd, Gemma’s owners spoke with a witness who reported that they had recently been asked by a man, later identified to be the suspect, to dispose of a pig carcass. The witness routinely handles animal remains as part of their employment and believed the request involved a feral hog that had been legally harvested. Unaware the animal was a family pet, the witness lawfully disposed of the remains.

After learning the pig may have been Gemma, the witness assisted in locating the remains. Gemma’s owners subsequently identified the remains as belonging to their pet, and they were returned to the family.

The investigation was assigned to Deputy P. Koon, of ASO’s Animal Services Division. Through interviews and evidence gathered during the investigation, detectives determined that Gemma had left her owners’ property and wandered onto land that the suspect had access to.

Based on the facts established during the investigation and the applicable provisions of Florida law, the suspect was charged by sworn complaint with Petit Theft. The charging documents have been submitted to the State Attorney’s Office for review.

We recognize that many members of the community, particularly pet owners, may find this outcome difficult and may question why additional charges were not filed. Gemma was clearly a beloved companion, and her death has had a profound impact on her family.

The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office conducted a thorough investigation into this incident and carefully evaluated all potential criminal violations. However, law enforcement officers can only pursue charges that are supported by the evidence and authorized under Florida law. Investigators determined that animal cruelty charges were not applicable under the circumstances of this case because the evidence indicated the pig was harvested under the belief that it was a feral hog and not a domesticated pet.

While the legal outcome may not align with every person’s expectations, our responsibility is to investigate the facts objectively and apply the law as written. We extend our condolences to Gemma’s family and appreciate the community members who assisted in providing information during the investigation.