Trusted pet groomer arrested, accused of killing several dogs that were left in his care

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC/Gray News) - Memphis police have arrested a pet groomer who is accused of killing several dogs.

According to a Shelby County arrest affidavit, Keaton Stuckey was hired as a groomer for Adrianna Gruins’ five Yorkies on Aug. 24.

Gruins said that Stuckey had been her trusted groomer for nearly four years, and that they had built a close personal bond.

However, the affidavit stated that Stuckey then shared videos with Gruins after taking in her pups, saying that two of them had died, with another vomiting and struggling to breathe.

In the videos, Stuckey claimed the dogs had ingested hair dye. Gruins said she had to watch her beloved pets die in the footage while she was rushing to his house.

But by the time she arrived, four of her five dogs were dead. Only one survived.

Gruins said all five had been placed together in a single kennel.

After discovering her dead animals, Gruins called 911 and was connected with Memphis Animal Services.

Officers took the dogs that did not survive away from the home. A subsequent necropsy revealed that they did not die of poisoning, but rather from fatal heatstroke.

Investigators noted that at no point in the videos did Stuckey make any attempt to take the suffering dogs to a veterinarian or pet hospital.

Gruins added that after the tragedy, Stuckey went on Facebook to bash his longtime client and speak negatively about her deceased dogs.

Stuckey was taken into custody on Tuesday on four felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animals.

Gruins said that while the arrest represents partial justice, she hopes Stuckey is held fully accountable for the pain he caused.