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Highlands Today

Trial Date Set For Alleged Animal Abuser

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By BRAD DICKERSON

Highlands Today

Published: November 8, 2008

SEBRING - A local man charged with animal cruelty and battery in reference to the beating of a Sebring woman and her pet pig will face a jury of his peers starting Dec. 1.
John Patrick Thrift Sr., 48, of 4502 U.S. 98, faces counts of assault, battery, criminal mischief and cruelty to animals.

The charges stem from a July 20 incident, where deputies with the Highlands County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the 4800 block of U.S. 98, in Lorida, on a battery complaint.

The victim, a 63-year-old woman, told law enforcement that Thrift had come to her ranch the night before, during an animal auction, and was highly intoxicated and somewhat disruptive. She said she was able to calm him down.

By the next day, the suspect was back at the ranch, again allegedly intoxicated, and damaging the property, according to the arrest report. Thrift was said to have destroyed a $1,000 canopy tent, a buyer's area and a metal trash can, as well as thrown debris and trash all over.

The approximate amount of damage was listed in court documents as $1,140.

Once the victim arrived at the ranch, Thrift allegedly knocked her to the ground and said, "I'll kill you."

She was reportedly knocked to the ground two more times, with the third time rendering her unconscious.

At this point, the suspect was said to have entered the hog pen and struck a pig named Wibur several times with the metal gate. Thrift then allegedly kicked the animal with his booted foot and tried to cut him several with a pocket knife.

Wilbur was frothing white foam from the mouth and bleeding as a result of the attack, according to the arrest report.

The pig was listed in court documents as a ranch pet of the victim's that she had raised since he was a piglet. Assistant State Attorney Steve Houchin said the victim informed him Wilbur lingered three or four days after the attack and then died.
National attention was brought to the case courtesy of an article in the Oct. 13 edition of the National Enquirer.

Thrift's arrest and the subsequent charges filed against him were profiled as part of an ongoing series called "Lock 'Em Up," which looks at cases of animal abuse from across the country.

An information bar at the bottom of the article told readers they could help make sure Thrift serves the maximum sentence if he is convicted by writing to the state attorney's office here in Highlands County and urging prosecutors to push for the "stiffest possible sentence."

Houchin's office has been flooded with hundreds of letters from readers in reference to the Enquirer story. They were mailed from places like West Orange, N.J., Cedar Hill, Tenn., Mesa, Ariz., Fresno, Calif., and Glen Cove, N.Y.

Several expressed outrage over the alleged incident, with one writer proclaiming the need to, "put that SOB behind bars where he belongs. He doesn't deserve to be in society."

Of course, all persons in the United States are innocent until proven guilty, a decision a jury will begin making in Thrift's case starting Dec. 1.

Brad Dickerson can be reached at (863) 386-5838 or bdickerson@highlandstoday.com

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