Barbecue Chef Strangles Pet Poodle Then Throws It Into Cooker

#1 He Did It For God

Patrick Zane Thompson, 42, a former Arizona State University football player, was arrested by police at his home in Goodyear, AZ after he had a fit of anger and began hearing voices. When officers responded to the home near Yuma and Sarival roads, Thompson "made erratic comments that he had to 'do it for God' and the 'Devil' made him do it and that he put the dog in the smoker," according to court paperwork.

#2 He Was Angry Over A Tee Shirt

The police report states that Thompson was angered by a T-shirt his 17-year-old daughter was wearing because he thought it had to do with the devil. He told his daughter to remove the shirt right there then went to the yard where his smoker was parked and started a fire. He tossed the shirt into the fire and watched it burn, and began to rant and act even more erratic.

#3 The Lord Was Going To Kill Him Unless he Had A Male Sacrifice

The police report says that "He began to have a vision that something bad was going to happen to his family and that 'the Lord' was going to kill him for what he had done. The defendant stated that from his readings in the Bible he knew that he had to make a male sacrifice and that he was not going to sacrifice himself or his firstborn son, six years old, so he told his family that it was going to be the family dog."

#4 He Strangled The Pet Poodle Then Barbecued It

Police say the family grabbed the dog, a poodle, and tried to flee, but Thompson reportedly grabbed the daughter. The family pleaded with him until he released the girl and promised not to harm the dog, but instead, he strangled and killed the dog. When police arrived, they found Thompson lying on the sidewalk with a self-inflicted cut to his arm and the dog burning in the cooker.

#5 Former Sun Devil

Thompson was a former Louisiana State social worker and played for the Sun Devils while attending Arizona State in 1996. He even played in the Rose Bowl game. He has owned the travelling barbeque business for about 6 years.

#6 Facebook Post Deleted

Thompson's daughter posted a statement from her family on the Raging Cajun Smoking Barbecue's Facebook page but deleted it just minutes later. She then commented that "At this time we ask you to please keep the negative comments to yourself in light of his family who are seeing your comments and reviews. Pat is suffering from a deeply mental problem from being over stressed from the business. His family is grieving from this and we ask that you please give his family some peace."

#7 Neighbors Say He Had A Mental Breakdown

Later that day the business FB page had the following post about the situation, thanking Jesus and quoting the Bible and her father, saying later that he had been suffering from "issues". She told neighbors that her father was being held hostage by the Devil. Neighbors say he was very religious and helped the homeless and fed hungry patrons at a local lunch kitchen. They say he was in the yard and looked as though he was having "a mental meltdown."

#8 His 'Episode' Has Him Being Held On $100,000 Bond

Thompson admitted to smoking marijuana earlier in the day and said it made him have "an episode." The state is requesting that Thompson be held on $100,000 in bond for the safety of the children in the home. Prosecutors pointed out that he initially stated he was going to sacrifice a male and mentioned killing himself or his son before electing to kill the family dog. He is charged with two felonies and four misdemeanors including animal cruelty, assault, threats against his family and tampering with evidence.

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