WASHINGTON COUNTY, IL — A Washington County Sheriff’s deputy who has been the focus of an investigation surrounding the shooting deaths of two dogs that were dumped in the woods has reportedly been terminated. Washington County Sheriff Len Campbell says deputy Craig McDaniel has been terminated and is at arbitration status. Campbell says his decision was based on all the information that was available to him.

McDaniel is accused of shooting his neighbors’ dogs in a rural area of Washington County, near Richview. He was placed on administrative leave following the incident, and the investigation was conducted by the Perry County Sheriff’s Office. In early March, a grand jury found McDaniel was not guilty due to insufficient evidence. After the external investigation was conducted, an internal investigation was done by the sheriff’s office, leading to McDaniel’s termination.

In January McDaniel’s neighbor accused him of shooting her two dogs Bentley and Ella after they slipped their collars and got out of her yard. She said he then came up to her and told her he dumped their bodies in the woods. She ultimately found her pets dead in the woods. Each dog had reportedly been shot twice.