Henderson, Nevada man accused of throwing dog in trash says coyote attacked animal

Police in Henderson have arrested a 60-year-old man accused of placing a severely injured dog inside a trash bag, where it later died.

According to an arrest report, Randy Katz was taken into custody Friday on one felony count of willful or malicious torture of an animal. Officers began investigating after a resident found the animal on November 4 near Via Da Vinci and Via Firenze in the Inspirada neighborhood.

That evening, local resident Shawn Scibilia noticed that his recycling bin was unusually heavy. When he opened the lid, he discovered a dog inside a trash bag, still moving and struggling to breathe. Scibilia and his wife, Xiao, immediately brought the dog to Inspirada Animal Hospital for emergency care.

Veterinarians said the dog—identified through a microchip as “Baily”—had fresh puncture or bite wounds near her neck, along with bruising on her body and signs of severe dehydration. Despite CPR and medical efforts, Baily went into cardiac arrest and died shortly after arriving at the hospital.

Police traced the microchip to Chantell Kaaihue, a former coworker of Katz’s late wife. Kaaihue had given Baily to the Katz family years earlier, saying the dog had bonded with their other pets. Officers learned that Katz had suffered several recent personal losses, including the deaths of his wife and his 85-year-old mother.

Detectives also reviewed bodycam footage from a previous police call to Katz’s home in October and observed three dogs inside, including one resembling Baily. A later search of the residence uncovered a Hefty trash bag, medical gloves, and traces of blood near a dog kennel.

During questioning, Katz told investigators that Baily had escaped from his home and was later found lying motionless in the street, apparently attacked by a coyote. He said he believed the dog was already dead and decided to place her in a trash bag to prevent his girlfriend, April Tattam, from seeing the injuries and becoming upset.

Police say the trash bag containing Baily was later found two houses down from Katz’s residence.

Katz remains charged with felony animal cruelty as the investigation continues.