Memphis, TN - Demetria Hogan, the convicted felon and Memphis animal control officer at the center of an investigation into Kapone, an 11-year-old pit bull missing for weeks, was fired by the city on Friday, July 15, 2011.
"Yes, Ms. Hogan was terminated today," city spokesperson Mary Cashiola confirmed to abc24.com.
Mayor A C Wharton also confirmed the termination late Friday.
Hogan was arrested on Wednesday, July 13th, charged with two counts of animal cruelty related to Kapone's disappearance last month.
City leaders haven't released any other details about Hogan's firing, including whether she was granted any form of compensation or severance package.
During a news conference earlier in the week, Mayor Wharton said he had someone looking into Hogan's continued employment in the weeks since Kapone was reported missing.
"I have the same questions that you have been asking," he said, "but I think you know I don't rush through things. We are going to work through that. As soon as I get the answers the public will know."
Brooke Shoup last saw her beloved Kapone, and her other dog Jersey, on June 24th. Shoup says she came home to find both dogs had escaped from the backyard of her Cordova home. Shoup says the fence in her backyard had been damaged during a spring storm.
Shoup says witnesses told her both dogs had been picked up by Hogan. Shoup says knowing neither dog had tags or a collar, she went down to the shelter the next morning. She says she quickly found Jersey, but Kapone was nowhere to be found.
Shoup, feeling ignored by shelter workers and management, filed a police report, called the media and waited.
Nearly three weeks later, Memphis police went searching for Demetria Hogan, an arrest warrant in hand. The animal control officer turned herself in to authorities is now charged with two counts of cruelty to animals.
abc24.com went to Hogan's house last week to ask her about the missing dog case. She says police searched her home and found nothing, and she insisted she did nothing wrong. According to court records, Hogan has had a number of previous run-ins with the law, including arrests for forgery and identity theft.
In April 2010, abc24.com reported that Hogan was hired at the shelter under the City of Memphis' Second Chance Program for convicted felons. And in May 2010, Shelter Advisory Board members told us Hogan had a history of not showing up for court, causing animal cruelty cases to be thrown out.
A tipline for information regarding Kapone's disappearance has been set up. Anyone with information is asked to call: (901)528-0699. The reward to find Kapone is now $8,000.
