Woman, 75, accused of beating fawn to death with shovel

Dorothy Richardson, 75, of Waynoka Road, Euclid, was charged with cruelty to animals after three neighbours told police that she beat a baby deer to death with a shovel.

The neighbours, including Euclid Councilman Christopher Gruber, said Richardson told them she beat the fawn in the head June 15 because it was sitting in her flower bed, according to Law Director Chris Frey said.



The city's cruelty charge is a first-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. Frey said that he plans to add a state cruelty charge, which is a second-degree misdemeanor, to give the judge more sentencing options, considering Richardson's age. The state charge is punishable by a maximum 90 days in jail and $750 fine.

Frey said he has received dozens of e-mails from across the country urging him to prosecute the case to its fullest.