A Lafayette family reached out for the community's help finding a missing dog last week (similar to the photo above), and the story doesn't end well.

According to a post on the Nextdoor app, a Lafayette resident posted a video of a man coming onto the resident's carport and stealing the family's dog, Reesie.

The family posted to the neighborhood app on Thursday, October 27th, asking for help in finding their miniature Schnauzer or, at least, identifying the man who was seen taking the dog.

Our elderly miniature schnauzer was taking from our carport this morning at 10:45am. He got loose from the backyard and was by our door. Not sure if the guy taking him in the video is a Good Samaritan or if he stole our dog. Any help in finding him would be appreciated. He has not called the phone number on his dog tag.

Later, on that same day, the family (who we are allowing to remain anonymous) posted an update to the story.

It appears that the family was able to identify and contact the man to ask about their dog, Reesie. The man told them that yes, he did pick up the dog, but that he released the dog from his car just a few houses down from where he abducted it.

Update: 10/27/22 We spoke to the man in the video and he no longer has Reesie. He says he let him out of his car a few houses down from ours. Reesie has not come back yet.

Here is where the story gets interesting and, unfortunately, much more devastating.

On Friday, October 28th, the family took to the Nexdoor app to post yet another update, this time announcing that their dog Reesie was deceased.

Update 10/28/22 we have Reesie’s body back. The Lafayette Police are doing a wonderful job with the case. We ask that no one try to identify or contact the person as we already know who it is and have spoken with them. Please let the police do their job. I don’t want to jeopardize the case. Thank you for all the support. Please pray for my family and hug you pets tonight.

How did the family get the body of the dog? Well, it appears that the suspect turned Reesie's body over to the police.

Via Nextdoor
Via Nextdoor
loading...

In a response to the family's original post on the Nextdoor app, a neighbor mentions that the man's words in the video made no sense to them. Apparently, the suspect told the dog (audible in the video), "Let's go home", before taking the dog.

That's when Reesie's family mentioned that the dog's corpse had been turned over to the police by the suspect.

Via Nextdoor
Via Nextdoor
loading...

And it appears that the family is trying to withhold details as they don't want to jeopardize the case the police may have against the suspect.

Via Nextdoor
Via Nextdoor
loading...

Several times in the post, Reesie's family asks neighbors to not approach or contact the suspect and to "let the police do their work."

It seems to me that the family knows much more about the case, and they are keeping things quiet.

Via Nextdoor
Via Nextdoor
loading...

As for how Reesie died - well, the family is not releasing that information, either.

One comment on the original post mentions that sometimes dogs are stolen to be used as bait dogs to train larger dogs for fighting. The family's reply could make one think that they know how their poor little dog met its demise.

Via Nextdoor
Via Nextdoor
loading...

It appears that the family's veterinarian may have performed a necropsy on Reesie, but we may not know how Reesie died until after this case is resolved.

It's crazy to think that someone is bold enough to come onto your property to steal a family pet, but it happens way too often. Lock your doors and keep an eye on your pets is good advice in these sad times.

What You Need to Prepare Your Dog for a Road Trip

More From 99.9 KTDY