It could have ended very differently for Daphne, a small terrier mix stolen from her 74-year-old owner Thursday during a violent carjacking.
Her owner, Rosa Smith, was punched in the face repeatedly before a man drove away from a DeKalb County gas station with her red Nissan Rogue, according to police. Daphne was still inside.
RELATED: 3 men sought after punching 74-year-old woman during DeKalb carjacking
It appears the dog was put out of the car sometime later in southwest Atlanta, where Candace Thompson found her wandering in the road Thursday night.
“I figured she belonged to somebody,” Thompson told DeKalb police. “She was in great condition. She had a tag, and you know, I wanted to get her out of the road.”
Thompson said she tried calling the number on Daphne’s tag for a few days but never got a call back. She finally called police after a friend said she saw the dog on the news.
Officers went to pick up the terrier Sunday night.
Smith, a retired attorney, was hospitalized following the attack. She didn’t suffer any broken bones, but she was left battered and bruised with gashes on her forehead, mouth and cheeks, according to police. She also complained of extreme pain in her hips.
An update on Smith’s condition was not provided. Her Nissan has not been recovered.
In surveillance video of the incident, Smith was left on the ground in the parking lot of the Chevron on the corner of Gresham and Cook roads. Police are still searching for her attacker, as well as two others they said got into the Nissan before it left the gas station.
They have released surveillance photos of the three suspects. On Monday,police said they believe one of the suspects is a woman.
Credit: DeKalb County Police Department
Credit: DeKalb County Police Department
Anyone with information is asked to call DeKalb County detectives at 404-786-7990. Tipsters can remain anonymous, and be eligible for rewards of up to $2,000, by contacting Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-8477, texting information to 274637 or visiting the Crime Stoppers website.
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