MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) – Questions keep arising about the Mid-South’s most famous missing dog.
Kapone is home, but as of Wednesday, December 21, 2011 his owners were still riding an emotional roller coaster.
And there have been repercussions. Abc24.com was told that the large vinyl Christmas decorations in the front yard of the Senatobia, Mississippi home were Kapone was found were vandalized.
But of course, all the details surrounding Kapone’s homecoming are secondary, simply to the fact that he’s home at all.
“It is the best Christmas present I could have possibly asked for.” said Brooke Shoup, Kapone’s owner.
Twenty four hours after getting Kapone back home, Brooke still had not calmed down.
“I just couldn’t help myself,” Brooke told abc24.com, “I had to come home for lunch to see him. I had to come home and take him out and love on him. I just could not wait to get home today to see him.”
All of that is perfectly understandable. But, the question remains- how did Kapone make it all the way from Cordova to Senatobia, Mississippi?
“The investigation is coming from Memphis,” said Steve Holts, Senatobia’s Police Chief, “they’re doing the investigation from that end. The incident, the crime happened in Memphis.”
Abc24.com went to the Cordova home of Demetria Hogan, the former animal control officer charged with a crime in Kapone’s disappearance, for her reaction to the dog being found.
A knock on the front door produced no response.
When Memphis Police were contacted for an interview on how finding Kapone might affect their investigation, a response came via text from an MPD spokesperson.
“We are not doing any interviews at this point. It will probably be Monday (December 26, 2011) before we have anything to release.”
“Right now, they said they just have to take it at face value, that the dog wandered up to that house,” Darrell Shoup, one of the dog’s owners, told abc24.com.
“We will assist Memphis in any way we can.” Holts said.
A banner trying to assist in finding Kapone was still hanging at the corner of Walnut Grove and White Station the day after Kapone was discovered.
There was one important difference. Somebody had spray painted on the banner: I was found.
“I was just overwhelmed,” said Darrel Shoup, “I never thought I’d see him again.”
When Darrell called Brooke at work with the news, she just had to share.
“I just burst into tears at work and ran around telling everybody- it’s him, and everybody was crying. So, it was very exciting.”
Kapone got a physical the day after being found and there are a few problems. He has lung congestion and an enlarged heart and will have to undergo expensive heartworm treatments. But, he should be fine.
And the person who tipped off Crimestoppers to Kapone’s location initially said he did not want any of the $8000 reward. But, as of the evening of December 21, 2011 negotiations were underway to give him at least part of that money.
