.jpg)
Four individuals have been arrested and charged in connection with the dognapping of Brisco, a Great Pyranees dog, from Reid Road on Christmas Day.
Emily Lorraine Hill, 42, and Alice Lorraine Palmer, 19, both of Roanoke, were each charged with one felony count of larceny of a dog and conspiracy to commit larceny of a dog, conspiracy to wear a mask to conceal identity and conspiracy to possess burglary tools, as well as a misdemeanor count of trespassing. Palmer was also charged with two additional felonies: possession of burglary tools and wearing a mask to conceal identity, as well as one additional misdemeanor charge of intentionally destroying or defacing property.
Two other individuals, Dane Cooper Gabris, 20, of Vinton and Daniel James Peter Fierro, 33, of Roanoke, were also charged with one count of conspiracy to commit larceny of a dog apiece as well as one misdemeanor count each of making a false report to law enforcement. Fierro and Gabris allegedly reported that they’d found Brisco wandering along South Lee Highway in the Natural Bridge Area and had turned him into a shelter in Roanoke, but investigation by law enforcement revealed their connection to Palmer and Hill.
Hill and Palmer allegedly abducted Brisco from his home just before 3 p.m. on Christmas Day from his house on Reid Road while the owners were out of town. Security camera footage showed a vehicle pulling up to the house and a woman wearing a mask getting out of the passenger side of the car and running toward the house. The driver pulled the car around so that it was facing away from the house. Shortly after, the two women loaded Brisco into their car and drove away.
Deputy Chief Tony McFaddin with the Rockbridge County Sheriff’s Office told The News-Gazette on Tuesday that, while Palmer and Hill did not have any connection to Brisco’s owners, they were familiar with the area due to visiting someone who lived in that area of the county.
McFaddin also expressed his thanks for “all the citizens who helped with tips and leads.”
