A recent carjacking in Memphis, Tennessee, left a man heartbroken when his car was stolen with his cherished dog inside. However, there’s a silver lining to this distressing tale.
Zachary Murphree faced a nightmare scenario last Saturday when his 15-year-old chocolate Labrador, Hershey, was taken along with his vehicle at a gas station. According to FOX 13, two men approached Zachary under the pretense of needing help because they were out of gas. While Zachary was assisting them by filling a gas jug, the situation took a violent turn.
The assailants reportedly assaulted him with an AK-47, took his car keys, and sped away in his 2006 Chevrolet Silverado with Hershey still inside.
“They knew he was in there,” Zachary explained to WREG.
“He’s half blind, he’s deaf, he can’t hear anything,” Zachary shared with FOX 13, describing his senior dog. “All he wanted to do was just play.”
Although the stolen vehicle was eventually found, it was in poor condition, and Hershey was nowhere to be seen. The days following the theft were filled with anxiety and heartache for Zachary, who missed his canine companion dearly.
“It’s just hard. I just miss him so much. He would just always make me happy,” he said.
Hershey is not just a pet to Zachary; he is his only remaining family. This incident came during an already tough period, as Zachary had recently lost his home due to health and financial difficulties. “Everything at once. When it rains, I get a monsoon,” he told WREG.
Fortunately, there was a heartening turn of events: Hershey was found and returned home safely earlier today.
“I got a call from the sheriff’s office that they had found him,” Zachary reported. “The dog is great.”
Though Zachary’s car was severely damaged and his power tools were stolen, leaving him without insurance, the perpetrators are still at large. Authorities urge anyone with information to contact Crimestoppers at (901) 528-CASH or the Violent Crimes Unit at (901) 545-COPS.
As the investigation proceeds, Zachary can find some comfort in the return of his beloved Hershey.
Toledo, United States.
