One arrested, two wanted, after reported dog theft in Accomack County

One person has been arrested, while two more are still wanted, all in connection to the apparent theft of a dog in Accomack County.

Sheriff Todd Godwin say on January 11th just before 2:15 PM, Deputies responded to reports of a dog stolen from a home on Matthews Road, near Parksley. Once on scene, Deputies say they met a passerby, who told them that they had seen the dog being put into a U-Haul truck that was parked on the roadway. The passerby reportedly confronted the suspects, but they apparently fled in the truck.

Other law enforcement agencies on the Eastern Shore were notified to the situation, and given a description of the vehicle. The U-Haul was later stopped at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, where the suspects were interviewed.

The Sheriff’s Office says their investigation has now led to three arrest warrants for the suspects.

Charlene Boyajian, 45, of Virginia Beach, was arrested on one charge of larceny of a dog, by the Virginia Beach Police Department on Wednesday. She was later released. Thirty nine-year-old Bettina Cuce Rodriguez, of Virginia Beach, and 45-year-old Gordon Shell, of Utica, Michigan, are both still wanted, also on one charge each of larceny of a dog.

The investigation into the incident is reportedly on-going at this time. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Accomack County Sheriff’s Office at 757-787-1131 or 757-824-5666.