Andrea Rosebrock 
Last November I remember reading about a Cascade, WI man, Jacob Odekirk, 24, finding his dog hanged on a children’s swing at a park, and being just horrified, wondering who could do such a thing. Not only was this an intentional and cruel crime, the poor dog suffered greatly, taking place in WI, it really hit home just like any crime that takes place near to where you live. Thankfully, after an 8 month investigation including DNA evidence, they arrested who they believe is responsible, 20-year-old James M. DeGroff.
Odekirk let his dog, a German Shepherd name Smoky out about 2 am on November 4. When the dog didn’t come when he called and whistled, Odekirk spent hours searching for his missing canine companion. Imagine his horror the next day when he was contacted after employees with the Cascade Department of Public Works found the dog hanging from a swing at Cascade Memorial Park.
The dog’s collar had been looped around the basket of an infant swing, leaving his back legs barely touching the ground. Based on evidence such as the marks and scratches under the swing, it was obvious that Smoky suffered for an extended period of time. This was backed up by a necropsy that was performed as well.
Not so coincidentally, Odekirk’s tires were slashed the same nite.
It would seem obvious that the abduction and brutal strangulation killing of the dog and the tire slashing were not just random acts of violence and DeGroff was actually a suspect from the start. Turns out that he was angry that his ex-girlfriend was spending time with Odekirk and there had already been an angry phone call about it that same night.
There were also glove found at the scene with dog fur and saliva and a DNA match with material found on Smoky’s collar to DeGroff. The final “nail in the coffin” was the testimony of a 16-year-old who said that on numerous occasions DeGroff bragged and laughed about the crime, saying he thought it was funny and that he stood there and watched as the doomed dog struggled valiently for its life.
DeGroff, convicted but given a DCA (deferred conviction agreement) only a month previously for a sexual assault, originally a felony but pleaded down to a misdemeanor, may be looking at serious trouble now. Prosecutors normally seek to have a DCA removed if a new crime is committed and the defendant is bound over for trial.
He was charged with felony mistreatment of animals causing death, which carries a maximum penalty of 18 months in prison.
This is one serious waste of life that needs some serious punishment! To torture and kill and innocent and defenseless animal over jealous of an ex-girlfriend makes you think it wouldn’t take much for him to commit violence against another human being. The fact that they let him walk on $5k bail is pathetic! Wonder what they’ll plead this down to? Sometimes I really have no faith in our justice system. It seems more inclined to just process, in and out than real punishment and this is one POS that needs some serious punishment!
What a waste of oxygen.
James M. DeGroff your an idiot
THIS POS SOB NEEDS TO BE PUT IN JAIL & THROW AWAY THE KEY. GOD WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE THESE DAYS.
Stupid, ignorant sob. Throw him in jail and let him rot. A habitual offender, and his past offenses are not pretty ones.
Again I really wish these subhumans would get a nice big bubba for a boyfriend in jail and hope that he would experience pain and torture like they give to helpless and innocent animals. Yes I agree the justice system does not protect the innocent but the guilty!!!!
Unfortunately this is a Sheboygan County case. Their court system is a joke! Although the maximum is 18 months (which is way too little for this crime!) The judges are notorious for letting criminals off with a slap on the fingers – if not less! He probably will get probation only. I am certain this is not the last we will hear of this SOB.
OMG, this is horrible, this person has very big issues indeed. I hope he goes away for a very long time. Laws have to change when it comes to this sorta thing the laws should be the same all over the US not state to state.
need to hang him..by his testicles and watch him suffer for hours!! or until he leaves this earth!
and u are so right!! our justice system is the pitts! specially in virginia
That is why I always say give him a good beating , that is hockey justice the good old Canadian way . Sorry to sound juvenile , but it works and a guy like this needs it
Maybe we need to write this town that doesn’t know a thing about justice or put an article in the paper. The article in the paper should read “No Animal Safe Within Our Justice System”. Then let it go on and explain what happened. Maybe people need a wake up call. Sounds like a wonderful start. Or start it out with “Is Your Animal Safe in Our Town?” What are they gonna do but look like the I & A that they really are. That’s Idiots and A__ holes. One day we will read about his girlfriend dead somewhere, while he watched. Oops the justice system just allowed this to happen. People don’t even know how to think anymore. If you can kill an animal, then the next step is a human. Why can’t we understand that. Well, we may understand it, but the I & A doesn’t.
This inhumane being needs to rot in jail!!One question,WHY??? I just can’t wrap my brain around it.
I hope the person who decided to give this waste of good air and good space such a light penalty for the sexual assault should have his or her head examined. DeGroff has all the signs of someone who could explode and kill a bunch of people.
Here we go, info on the local paper:
Plymouth Review
PO Box 317, 113 East Mill St.
Plymouth, WI 53073
Phone: 920-893-6411
Fax: 920-893-5505
Features Editor: Sue Mroz, extension 11, email: reply@plymouthreview.com
Sheboygan Falls News Editor: Jeff Pederson, extension 31
email: fallsnews@excel.net
Link to their paper: http://www.plymouth-review.com/
Read my last comment on “Slap On The Wrist”. Fits here as wll. Take them somewhere and beat the crap out of them. Hang him so his legs are barely touching the ground and watch….yes, I said watch, watch him struggle and pittyfly mmoan and cry for help while we just stand ther and wait and watch until he breaths his last disgusting breath! I am beyond SICK of this crap. No more letters….a waste of time. No one is listening! Time to take matters into our own hands! You are so right Terry and it is not at all juvenile, it is the right thing to do now because the laws are ACTUALLY PROTECTING these POS’s! If a few were to be found dead and hanging somewhere and a large amount of people were involved in this, they would never find who did it! Stand by your convictions! The law is not working and they are not working for us any longer…..they are working to protect the criminal!
Animal Laws need to be changed FAST – The C*** should oF gone for life
What a scum bag this one is and needs to hung just like he did the poor dog… I’d be glad to do it too…. has anyone else noticed that about 90% of the scum that abuse the animals on here are younger people?? I’ve noticed it and say it’s from the video game and films that they watch that they can’t make out what is truth or what is not… they seemd to very mad about something …. Could it be that china has brain washed them to act out this way thru thier games they have put in front of our kids and parents and let them have… makes one wonder ??? It would be a good way to ruin a country to afect the youth. Anyways this thing need to be delt with at an end of raope and I’ll bring the rope just point me a nice tree please…
I have seen it with many of my sons friends, and my sons are late 20’s early 30’s. These young adults, and people younger than they, have never been taught to respect anything or anybody. I would say most of these people who are habitual offenders have never seen the inside of a place of worship, never had their parents say the word “no”, or have the parents ask where they are/what they are doing. No supervision as they were growing up. Pamper the kids, don’t give them a good swat on the rear end when they have deserved it.
They keep letting real criminals go and pick on the innocent. Our justice system is really f**ked up and it’s the district attorneys fault by making these stupid deals all of the time. Innocent people are pushed into taking the stupid deals and pleading guilty so they don’t get worse penalties if they loose. Meanwhile real criminals like this guy are let off easy for what they’ve done. What are the courts thinking?!