MESA, AZ (AZFamily) — A Mesa woman is behind bars after police say she tortured and killed multiple dogs and then documented several of the cases in a journal.
Brook Scalero, 42, is facing animal cruelty charges following her arrest last week.
Warning: Graphic details ahead; discretion advised
On Nov. 4, a journal allegedly belonging to the suspect was turned in to Mesa PD by her former roommate, whose dog named Gus died under Scalero’s watch. According to court documents, Scalero told the owner that she took the dog to the vet for a tooth infection and that he died.
Scalero was kicked out of the apartment and reportedly left several personal items behind, including a journal. Police say that in the journal, which listed Scalero’s name, address and email, she wrote about torturing 12 dogs and killing five, including Gus.
“The journal described in tortuous detail the continued abuse and ultimate deaths of multiple dogs under Scalero’s care,” Mesa police wrote in a press release.
Documents also say the journal described the physical abuse of a 14-month-old baby.
One case dates back to late spring. On June 7, Mesa-based animal rescue P.A.W.S. for the Cause reported to police that Scalero agreed to pay $500 for a 3-year-old Maltese mix named Pepe in May. The rescue let Scalero take the dog under the pretense that she would pay them later that day, but she never did.
On Oct. 5, Mesa police responded to the VCA Animal Hospital for reports of a dead dog, a Maltese mix that matched the description of Pepe. Documents say the dog had been found in an apartment complex dumpster and had injuries consistent with animal abuse.
Hospital staff found that the dog had an implanted microchip and learned his name was Griffin, not Pepe. However, police say Griffin’s registered owner was also Scalero.
Scalero was arrested on Nov. 14 on unrelated crimes and interviewed by Mesa detectives. Police say she confirmed the journal belonged to her but said the stories “were just creative writings.” She also reportedly admitted to taking Pepe without paying the animal rescue.
A day after her arrest, someone reported finding a dead dog behind a bush along 8th Avenue near Extension Road in Mesa. A microchip confirmed the dog was named Pepe and registered to P.A.W.S. for the Cause.
In the journal, Scalero reportedly described the death of Pepe by choking him, dehydrating him and leaving him in a hot car over the course of two days.
The journal also detailed the death of Gus, including beating him and wrapping multiple hair ties around his snout.
Police say Scalero was interviewed again on Monday and that she admitted torturing and killing Pepe, Griffin and Gus. She was booked on two felony counts of cruelty to animals and one count of cruelty to animals-DV, as well as one misdemeanor count of theft.
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