An 18-year-old Massachusetts man who allegedly used a baseball bat to beat his family's Maltese dog to death has been indicted on an animal cruelty charge.
The Salem News reports that Andrew McCarriston, of Marblehead, has been held at the Worcester Recovery Center since his May 5 arrest.
Authorities say McCarriston's mother brought the dog to a veterinarian for cremation in April and told the vet her son beat the dog to death. Police started investigating after receiving a call from the vet.
He was sent to the state mental health facility for evaluation following his initial appearance in Lynn District Court in May.
McCarriston's mother says her son had an isolated "psychotic episode" when he killed the dog.
His attorney declined to comment.
