Death of Fuzz

Two Weeks Prior to Janet’s Disappearance 

Sunday, August 22, 1982

• On that Sunday morning, K-9 Fuzz was found non-responsive in the family’s fenced back yard. Paul was on duty at the jail, so Janet, Kristi, and John took Fuzz to Edgewood Veterinarian Clinic. DVM Jan Hershenhouse helped get Fuzz out of the back of the family’s Ford Bronco, and noticed that the K-9 had vomited up some blood. Fuzz took a few breaths and died. 

• Dr. Hershenhouse told Janet and the children that based upon the symptoms they described (vomiting in the garage the day before, fever, and suddenly becoming ill and in pain for no known reason) and the coloring of Fuzz’s gums and skin, the cause of the dog’s death was likely poisoning. Janet had reported that the dog had been listless, and not eating normally for a few days. 

• Dr. Hershenhouse examined Fuzz for any sign of injuries, and found none. Janet called Paul at work to tell him what happened, and ask if they should have the dog cremated by the vet. 

• The family agreed to bury Fuzz at Lake of the Pines where Paul’s parents had a home, and the dog’s remains were loaded into the back of the Bronco. 

Transcription of Vet Notes 8/22/82 - “ Listless one week, anorexia, seemed feverish last night—Owners gave two aspirin. Licking hairs off front legs yesterday; in fenced yard; found comatose this am. Had normal stool and vomited in car on way here. D.O.A. attempts at CPR failed; owners will dispose. (OVER)  1) Save vomitus for heavy metal analysis (in refrig.); 2) Owners decline autopsy; 3) Check yard for poisons, Check vaccine record of other dog at home esp. parvo.”      (NOTE: Vet charged $20 for conducting this in-person yard check at 244 Forest Court.)

• The exact cause of Fuzz’s death remained a mystery until the spring of 2005. 

• At that time, Auburn PD obtained a search warrant to dig up the Lake of the Pines property to look for Janet’s remains. During that excavation, they recovered the bag that contained Fuzz’s bones. Initial examination identified a portion of a unknown rib bone that appeared to have been cut with a tool. 

• The FBI was hoping that the rib bone was human, and belonged to Janet, so FBI Special Agent Chris Hopkins secretly sent it to forensic anthropologist Steven Symes for examination and identification. 

• Dr. Symes determined that this bone was “a cooked pork rib bone” that Fuzz had ingested, which was still in his digestive tract when he died. 

• The actual cause of Fuzz’s death had finally be solved after twenty-three years of uncertainty. 

Cross Examination of Dr. Symes

• The pork rib bone had caused either an intestinal blockage or perforation leading to an infection (which seems likely given Fuzz’s fever the night before he died). Unfortunately, it was impossible for the Kovacichs to know about the bone, and tell Dr. Hershenhouse, because Fuzz didn't get it from them. Not only were all of the family members extremely aware of the danger, but both Adolph and Fuzz were on a special diet to avoid health issues common in German Shepherds, and to stay fit for K-9 service. 

• Fuzz had been in the fenced yard at Forest Court in the days prior to his death, so the main questions remain:  who fed Fuzz a pork spare rib; did that person know the danger and intend to kill Fuzz, or just want to gain his trust; and... was the meat also poisoned? 

• After Symes identified the pork rib bone eaten by Fuzz shortly before he died, the FBI asked him to examine Fuzz’s remains for signs of injury or broken bones—Symes determined that none of the bones showed pre-death damage, and that Fuzz wasn’t “kicked,” “stomped,” “beaten," or "choked.” 

• The indigestible pork rib bone, and potential poisoning remained the only possible causes of death.