The Dog Poisonings: Part 1 (Still on the loose)

katu ^

[chance33_98]

The Dog Poisonings: Part 1

PORTLAND - In August, KATU News received a chilling phone message about the deadly dog poisonings in Laurelhurst Park. Now police say they believe the voice on the message could belong to whoever is responsible for the poisonings.

The message was left right after KATU News aired a story about the poisonings. The message was immediately turned over to police, but so far, they have not been able to track down the caller.

Listen to message left at KATU.

The call, left by a man with what sounds like a southern drawl, came in just seconds after KATU News aired a story in August on the dog poisonings at Laurelhurst Park.

The story included an interview with criminal psychologist Frank Colistro. In the interview Colistro described the dog poisoner as someone with low self-esteem, needing some way to feel better about themselves.

"In a sick sort of way that's what this is all about. I'm in control here," said Colistro. "I'm powerful. Look at this. I've turned this city on its ear. Everybody's afraid. No one will go to the parks...yeah!"

During the message, the caller seems irritated that the death of someone he calls "a poor little woman" received no attention, while the deaths of the Laurelhurst dogs were put in the spotlight.

The caller finishes the message with a religious reference, and an indication he does not want to be identified.

In the message, the caller states:

"In the bible, animals don't even have souls. Only the human being has a soul. But a dog is a pet, a servant, a slave, and you don't to have your slave be away from ya because it makes you feel lonely don't it. Well before you can trace this call, I'm going to go, but next time don't be so [expletive] busy and maybe you can get some information. Take care, bye-bye." KATU News played the phone message for Dr. Colistro. He says it's highly possible this caller could be the dog poisoner. He noted the caller sounded insulted that the news story suggested the dog poisoner is a coward with low self-esteem.

"I can see him in his own lame way more or less saying, 'that made me mad, that's not how I see myself and that's not how you should be seeing me, I'm a righteous guy,' " said Dr. Colistro.

KATU News asked the people most affected by the poisonings -- the owners of dogs that got sick or died over the Forth of July weekend -- to listen to the message too.

Their reactions were mixed.

Some believed it was the voice of the dog poisoner. One dog owner David noted: "Why would he make a reference to tracing the call if he was just calling into make a comment."

Other dog owners disagreed.

"I always thought that the person who did this would be really excited about the media attention so the last thing they would do is call and complain about it," said dog owner Shawna.

Tracy Dau, who lost her yellow lab, says she believed the voice on the recording belongs to a man who visited Laurelhurst Park.

She recognized the man's accent, and said she believed the man was on some medication because "he had good days and he had really off days."

The man also rode a red mountain bike.

KATU News may never learn whether the voice on the message is the voice of the person who poisoned these pets. So much about the caller remains unknown.

Uncertainty is perhaps the most difficult aspect overall for dog owners affected by the poisonings, even more difficult than the pain of losing their best friends.

If you recognize the voice in the phone message, contact the SouthEast Portland Precinct and ask for the lead investigator in the case, Detective Crockett.

Join us for the second part in the three part report Wednesday night on KATU News.

Anna Song will analyze the investigation and why no arrests have been made.

She also visits one of the few dogs that survived, and will speak more with the victims about life after the poisonings.

[cry4justice]

First time I'm seeing this. How were they all poisoned? At the same time?

[little jeremiah]

I am familiar with the park in question, as well as other Portland parks. I am 100% opposed to poisoning dogs, it is sick, cruel, and evil. That said, I am also opposed to dogs running WILD in every single park in Portland completely in violation of city laws. They s**t everywhere, bark, bite, threaten, fight with each other, and make the parks useless for anyone who isn't taking their dog for a toilet walk. And for some reason, everyone in Portland has very large dogs.

[sharktrager]

My bulldog was poisoned in Waco. It's an awful way to die.

[wimpycat]

Have they said what kind of poison was used? Where were the dogs when they were poisoned? Did the guy break in to people's backyards and put poison in the dogs' food dishes?


???????

[wimpycat]

That's some sort of Southern accent, but it's not a North Carolina or South Carolina accent, that's for sure. Sometimes he sounds white, sometimes he sounds black. Whenever I hear an accent like that, it usually turns out the person is from Louisiana.

But don't go by me. I can definitely say it's not a North Carolina accent, but only a Louisianan can say if it's a Louisiana accent, whether real or faked.

Louisiana FReepers, listen to the recording of the message (on the original link) and tell us what you think of the accent.

[wimpycat]

On a second listening, sometimes he sounds like Kevin Spacey in "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil", in which case, the guy might be from around Savannah, Georgia.

It's a strange accent--possibly faked.

[cajun-jack]

well it ain't a coonass accent that's for sure...ain't a nawth looziana accent neither.

[Who dat?]

Sometimes he sounds white, sometimes he sounds black. Whenever I hear an accent like that, it usually turns out the person is from Louisiana.

To me he sort-of sounds (NW) black trying to sound southern. At any rate he isn’t from SE Texas or SW Louisiana IMO. They’re more “mumbly.” (Like Boomhauer on King of the Hill.)

[wimpycat]

They should send a tape of the message to a few law enforcement agencies around the South, to see if they recognize the accent, or to some Southern linguists. It sounds like a white guy, and if they can identify the accent, that would help narrow down their search. One thing's for sure; I'm sure there's not too many people in Portland Oregon who talk like that.

Assuming the accent isn't faked, of course.

[LibKill]

Poison is a coward's weapon.

[chance33_98]

No idea, will have to wait I suppose until they do part 2.

[Space Wrangler]

That's not a southern accent. It's someone trying to sound southern. In certain parts of the statement there is no accent at all, and then it goes to an overkill level on the southern accent. IF it is a southern accent, it's someone who hasn't lived in the south in a long time.

[Darlin']

Humm, I gotta agree with the rest, that isn't a Louisiana accent. It reminds me of someone who believes they can do a southern accent, like some actors. LOL

[LikeLight]

It doesn't sound "faked" - it sounds very natural for the guy, but it's all over the place - for a while I was certain it was a "black" accent, rather than merely "southern", but then certain phrases didn't sound that way at all . . . it definitely had a "psychotic" edge to it, though . . .