DEDHAM, Mass., Feb. 12 (UPI) -- A Polish immigrant in Massachusetts charged with abusing the dog known as "Puppy Doe" has been charged with stealing from the elderly woman he cared for.
Bail was set at $500,000 on the new charges Tuesday for Radoslaw Czerkawski, 32, the Boston Herald reported. Czerkawski, allegedly in the United States illegally, was already held without bail on 12 counts of animal cruelty.
Animal lovers in the courtroom were disappointed that the "Puppy Doe" case was not discussed during Tuesday's hearing, the Boston Globe reported.
"We knew there were new charges, but we thought the pretrial conference would move forward," said Nancy Harris, wearing a coat with a picture of the young pit bull on the back.
Czerkawski lived with Janina Stock, 95, in Quincy, Mass., from January to her death in August, investigators say. Her family hired him because he spoke Polish and paid him $1,500 a month.
Prosecutors say that in March Czerkawski took Stock to the bank, claimed to be her grandson and arranged for $130,000 in assets to be placed in a joint account.
"Puppy Doe" was found in Quincy on Aug. 31, the day of Stock's death from natural causes. The dog was so seriously injured she had to be euthanized.
Czerkawski was arrested in October after investigators traced the dog to him through a Craigslist ad placed by the person who sold him the animal. Investigators said some of Stock's jewelry and other valuables were found in his car.
