Man Accused Of Killing Mom's Chihuahua Denies Charges

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - Considered one of Sacramento's most wanted, a dog owner is accused of a horrific crime. Police say Israel Martinez has anger issues and brutally killed his mom's Chihuahua last November.

"I did not kill that animal," said Martinez.

Martinez is sticking to his story. He says he loved his mom's Chihuahua, Spike.

But police have a totally different story.

"This gentleman has some anger issues," said Sacramento Police Department Sgt. Bryce Heinlein.

Months ago, in a fit of rage, Martinez picked up Spike and threw him against a wall -- killing him, say police. His friend says he witnessed the ordeal and called police. That's when Martinez took off.

"Investigators later found the dog in a shallow grave," said Heinlein.

Because of the violence of crime, and officers not being able to find Martinez, he was placed on Sacramento's most-wanted list.

"I never hurt an animal. I never hurt any kind of animal," he said Martinez.

So how did the dog die? Martinez says after his mom passed away last year, Spike became depressed and died from a broken heart. He found he dog under some blankets in his bedroom and buried him nearby.

"I happened to bury it in the front yard," Martinez said.

But what about his friend allegedly seeing the whole thing?

Jones: "Why would your friend say you threw that dog up against that wall?

Martinez: "I don't understand what's going on right now..."

Martinez is being held at the Sacramento County Jail on $10,000 bail. He's due in court on Monday.