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Court docs: Man accused of beating puppy threatened to kill fiancée if she left

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. — A North Andover woman’s dog was apparently “beaten and strangled” by a jealous fiancé, according to court documents.

The woman reported her fiancé, Jeremy Picchierri, to police Saturday afternoon, saying he had apparently beaten the dog so severely it had to be put into a coma at the animal hospital.

The woman reported to police that her ex-boyfriend had called her that morning and Picchierri is “very insecure” and they have “issues of ‘jealousy,’” court documents stated.

The couple had a rocky relationship, according to the police report. She told police her fiancé had convinced her to agree to marry him after threatening to kill himself. She also told police, he had said, “once we are married, that’s it … I have family that’s mafia, you can’t leave me, or I’ll kill you.”

She also told police he called her and said the dog was sick and convulsing and was worried he would be charged with animal cruelty because he had “smacked the dog.”

Based on the woman’s statements to police, a warrant was issued for Picchierri on a charge of animal cruelty. But police also wrote they were seeking a warrant for his threat to the woman.

According to court documents, the dog had severe bruises on its neck, shoulders and ears.

The puppy was taken to Bulger Animal Hospital, where a doctor said his injuries appeared to be from being “struck or beaten.”

The woman was granted a restraining order against her fiancé.

MORE: Man accused of beating and strangling Golden Retriever puppy in Peabody