Andrea Rosebrock 
In February three punks decided to break into the home of an Akron, OH woman, Paulette Hixenbaugh. They weren’t satisfied with just stealing, they also had to beat the family’s 12-lb Shih Tzu, Susie, injuring her so badly that she had to be euthanized. No doubt these punks though they were free and clear but Akron police weren’t going to just let these wastes of human life get away so easily.
Melvin Price Jr., 18, was recently arrested and is charged with burglary and cruelty to animals. Only 17 at the time, he will be tried as a juvenile. Another suspect, Lewis Napoleon Jr., 22, is still at large and an arrest warrant has been issued and there is a third suspect who has not been named.
The reward, $5K of which was offered by the Hixenbaugh family and another $5K from an anonymous source is for the arrest and conviction of those involved in this horrific crime. By now, Paulette didn’t actually expect police to find the heartless POS who burglarized her home and beat her dog almost to death but she got the news Monday Akron police Detective Dion Seminatore.
”I really didn’t think the police would be able to find these guys, because there’s so many more important crimes, people getting killed or beat up,” she said. ”But I want to thank them. I think they did a great job.”
Seems the police made the connection to another burglary that took place in the same neighborhood and found a shotgun belonging to her husband and a prescription bottle belonging to her in one of the suspect’s houses but it was the level of cruelty of the crime that really put pressure on to find these guys.
”Obviously, because of the type of crime, the dog being beaten, it got a lot of attention from a lot of different people,” he said.
At the time of the burglary, Paulette had left her home for just a short time and when she returned she found her home ransacked, taken were took Donald Hixenbaugh’s truck, several guns, cash, a Dell computer and printer, a DVD player, a case of Milwaukee’s Best beer and several collectible whiskey decanters in the shape of a train, a phone and a bird but the worst was finding her little dog, Susie, beaten, bloody, whimpering and barely alive. The police found an indentation in the wall where these punks kick her.
”I want them punished for what they did to my little dog,” she said. ”They don’t know the sadness they caused. I know to some people, it’s just a dog, but she was a member of our family.”
Let’s get this guy’s picture circulating and see if we can’t help get justice for the Hixenbaugh family and poor little Susie. Let’s help get these wastes of human life where they belong, behind bars!
Anyone with information on Napoleon’s whereabouts is asked to call Akron police detectives at 330-375-2490. Anonymous tips for this or any crime can be made at http://ci.akron.oh.us/ASP/tip.html.
Paulette, my heart goes out to you and you have my sincerest condolences on the loss of your baby. Justice won’t bring her back but perhaps it will help to ease the pain in your heart knowing they won’t be doing this to another family’s innocent furry family member.
What a shame the police didn’t find it necessary to use their guns when they arrested this useless thing. Perhaps it would be better if he died also!!!!
OH PLEASE WOULD SOMEONE LET ME HANG THE SCUM BAG I’LL BRING THE ROPE AND WOOPS i’LL PUT THE KNOTE ON THE WRONG SDE SO HE’LL SUFFER THE MOST AND WILL TAKE A LONG TIME TO DIE…. NOW POINT ME TO A NICE TREE…..
My heart goes out to Paulette. I know she must miss her little baby so much. I hope in these trying times someone will be able to use the money and come forward. If it were me I wouldn’t care about the money. I would donate it to Paulette to help her recoop some of what she has lost. I am praying there are some good concerned citizens out there that will do the right thing so we can eliminate these scum bags.
Oh my God. What is wrong with people? Poor Paulette, your little baby girl did not need to suffer as she did. I am sure she will be waiting for you at Rainbow Bridge in years to come. I hope to God that someone comes forward, and turns in this moron; and hopefully justice will be done. Me too, I don’t care about my personal belongings, but please do not hurt my babies.
I live in Akron and this was a really big news story – including Cleveland TV news, as you see in the video above. It was just such a heart wrenching, senseless act and this area was appalled. It’s great to know that at least one of these MF’rs was arrested and the other should soon be.
I’m so very sorry Paulette. Susie is safe now and those pukes can not hurt her anymore. I’m with you Susie. God forbid, someone hurt my baby’s. Take anything they want, but don’t hurt my baby’s. They are irreplaceable.