LAS VEGAS — Police say the guy who is accused of killing English Bulldog Reba, who made national news when she was found in a plastic bag with the lid taped shut in July heat, tied the dog up outside his apartment until she got sick.
On July 26, early in the morning, the dog was found in the 1100 block of East Twain Avenue, inside a plastic bag that had been taped shut. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department was called to the scene.
That night, the temperature was around 110 degrees. The National Weather Service said that it was 111 degrees outside in the evening.
The dog was named “Reba” by the Vegas Pet Rescue Project, a local animal rescue group. People all over the country called for “Justice for Reba” after she died the next day.
Because of Reba’s death, Markeisha Foster (30) and Isaac Laushaul Jr. (32) were arrested last weekend on charges of animal abuse.
A police report says that around 8 p.m. on July 25, two people said they saw the bag. They opened the bin to see what was inside and found Reba. After that, they took her to an auto parts shop nearby to get out of the heat until a Paws Patrol volunteer could get there.
Rafael Herrera, a volunteer, took Reba to a nearby hospital when he got there. Reba had several seizures on the way to the hospital, and hospital staff told Herrera she had heatstroke, which he told the cops.
The next day, Reba died. She had been about two years old. Heat stroke likely killed her. According to her necropsy report, dog types like English Bulldogs are more likely to get sick from heat than other animals.
Two people, later identified as Foster and Laushaul, were seen leaving the bag near the dumpster less than an hour before Reba was found on surveillance video from the area. Later, the police let the public see some of the videos to help them find the two people.
Detectives used the video to figure out that the suspects were driving a white Kia Forte with California license plates from 2022 to 2024. The report said that the car was hired in the name of Laushaul’s mother, but phone records show that she was in California on the day Reba was left.
The house where Laushaul lived was just over a half mile from where Reba was dropped off. He was on probation with Henderson.
Anonymous people who lived in the apartment building where Laushaul was staying told police that they saw Reba tied up outside of his apartment “many” times and that she would stay there for “long periods.” A witness said that Laushaul would yell at Reba “all the time.”
On hot days, kids in the area would try to give Reba water.
A check of the LVMPD records turned up video from a body-worn camera from a call about a domestic disturbance in May, just a few doors down from Laushaul’s apartment. Video footage shows a dog bowl and leash outside his door, which backs up what the witness said.
The report said that in July, more body-worn camera footage showed probation officers visiting Laushaul’s brother’s apartment to check on him. Laushaul’s brother was living with him at the time. Police saw a bulldog in a black kennel in the kitchen on the tape.
The video showed a bulldog that looked a lot like Reba, the story said.
Foster and Laushaul were arrested on December 7, 2018, four months after Reba’s death.
Foster told the cops that she was seeing Laushaul and that he had a bulldog named “Nike.” The report said that Foster agreed that “Nike” was the same dog when shown pictures of Reba.
When the police showed Foster the video of her and Laushaul dropping off the plastic bag, she agreed that it was indeed her and Laushaul. She told the cops that Reba had been left outside their apartment earlier in the day for an unknown amount of time. When Laushaul brought her inside, he saw that she was sick.
It was said by Foster that Laushaul tried to feed and water Reba but she wouldn’t eat or drink. Wet towels were then put over Reba by Laushaul, but her symptoms did not get better. He carried Reba to the car after putting her in the bin and covering it.
Police were told by Foster that the two tried to go to an unknown animal hospital but it was closed, so they drove to the 1100 block of Twain. The report said Foster said Laushaul took the bin, put it next to the dumpster, and then the two of them left.
She said Laushaul was “stressed” because he “decided quickly” and “didn’t know what to do.” The report says Foster told cops she didn’t agree with his choice and didn’t try to stop him or help Reba.
Laushaul wouldn’t talk to the police.
Foster and Laushaul stayed in jail on Thursday. On Monday, the judge set Foster’s bail at $50,000 but never set bail for Laushaul. The two are being charged with a crime for torturing, mauling, or killing an animal on purpose. On December 23, there was going to be a preliminary hearing.
There was a $50,000 prize for information that led to an arrest in the case, but it’s still not clear if the money was given out.
A group called Justice for Reba started a petition that has been signed by thousands of people calling for stricter rules against animal abuse. Tuesday, Steve Wolfson, the district attorney for Clark County, said the fines were too light and told people to ask their lawmakers to change the law.
