St. Louis prosecutor drops charges in dog-burning case

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis prosecutors say their trouble securing testimony has forced them to drop charges against a woman accused of fatally setting a dog on fire nearly two years ago.

St. Louis Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce's office on Monday dropped the two felony counts of animal abuse against 37-year-old Adrienne Martin.

Joyce's office didn't provide additional details because the record is closed. But Joyce says in a statement the statute of limitations in pursuing charges again hasn't run out, and the case remains open.

Martin was charged in July 2013. Authorities say that after she was arrested, she told police a relative's terrier mix named Brownie had bitten her son the day before the dog was burned.

Her attorney, Philip Dennis, said he never believed his client committed the crime.