After weeks-long search and $10,000 reward, stolen dog is found dead, SC officials say
Bella the dog was found dead Sunday after a weeks-long search and a $10,000 reward offered by her owner in exchange for her safe return, media outlets report.
The 2-year-old yellow lab mix went missing Dec. 22 when her owner, Ben Brengle, says his truck, which Bella was inside, was stolen from a Lowe’s in North Charleston, S.C., McClatchy News reported.
Brengle started a Facebook page called Find Bella of Charleston, SC to help find her. He offered a $10,000 reward for her “safe return” or tips leading to her return, along with a $5,000 reward for the “identity, arrest and conviction” of the person who stole her, he wrote on the Facebook page.
The stolen truck was found Thursday and the man accused of stealing it, Richard Rawlings Jr. was arrested, McClatchy News reported. But Bella remained missing.
A post on the Facebook page asked for trail cameras on Saturday night to help with the search for Bella.
But Brengle found her body at about 2 a.m. Sunday, according to WCSC.
Officials say she was found down an embankment on the eastbound side of the 52 connector, WCIV reported.
This story was originally published January 5, 2020 at 11:17 AM with the headline "After weeks-long search and $10,000 reward, stolen dog is found dead, SC officials say."
