Man accused of abusing and killing puppy

ALBUQUERQUE -- (KRQE) -- Witnesses say he abused a puppy and dumped its body in a field. Now, an Albuquerque man will stay behind bars until trial.

It is still unclear how the puppy died, but at least two people tell police they saw Shaun Ferguson abusing it.

According to a criminal complaint, Ferguson was angry that his wife, Jessica, was not speaking to him early last month.

Then, a family member told Jessica that she heard Ferguson would kill the couple's dogs if she did not talk to him.

Jessica reportedly went to their hotel room, off Central and Tramway, out of fear for her pets. She arrived to find one of the dogs in the parking lot but did not see their 9-week old puppy.

A man who lives in the complex later told police that he saw Ferguson beating the puppy and dragging it through a field by the hotel.

The witness said he heard a gunshot around the same time, but did not see Ferguson holding a gun.

Jessica told police Ferguson may have had her missing handgun.

Police later found the puppy dead in the field and arrested Ferguson.

In court on Saturday, Judge Renee Torres ruled he will be behind bars.

Ferguson's sister-in-law told police that she had previously seen Ferguson punch the puppy in its face and then held it up by its neck chain.