Marinna Rollins, a 23-year-old white female and U.S. Army veteran, was found dead in her Fayetteville, North Carolina apartment on May 7, 2017. Her death was ruled a suicide by the Fayetteville Police Department. Rollins had been charged with animal cruelty and conspiracy after a video surfaced showing her and her boyfriend, Jarren Heng, tying her service dog to a tree and shooting it multiple times.
The dog, named Huey, was registered as an emotional support animal for Rollins, who suffered from PTSD following her military service in South Korea. Rollins and Heng were out on bail and awaiting their next court date when she was found dead.
Rollins' death was discovered by friends who had gone to her apartment after being unable to reach her. The police found evidence suggesting that her death was a suicide. Rollins had been discharged from the military earlier in the year due to mental health issues. The video of the dog shooting, which was posted on Facebook, showed Rollins laughing as she shot the dog. The incident sparked outrage and led to a planned demonstration outside the courthouse for their next court appearance.
Rollins' estranged husband, Matt Dyer, had adopted the dog before being deployed to Korea and had left the dog in Rollins' care. Rollins had registered the dog as an emotional support animal to help her cope with her PTSD. The video of the shooting showed Rollins and Heng laughing and giggling as they killed the dog, which led to their arrest and charges of animal cruelty and conspiracy. Rollins' death brought an end to the legal proceedings against her, but the case continued against Heng.
