Pair arrested for vehicle theft that resulted in death of dog from heat exhaustion

WASILLA — Two Valley residents were arrested by Alaska State Troopers Monday in connection with the theft of vehicle in which the owner’s dead dog was found inside after apparently succumbing to heat exhaustion.

According to a trooper dispatch from Tuesday morning, Palmer resident Gina Jones, 36, and Wasilla resident Jason McDonnell, 35, were arrested on North Williwaw Way around 6:30 p.m. Monday. Troopers were in the area on an unrelated call, according to spokeswoman Megan Peters, and encountered the pair.

Jones and McDonnell are facing a host of charges for a July 10 incident in which an Anchorage man’s maroon 1999 Dodge van was stolen from Fireweed Road, adjacent to the Parks Highway. Troopers later found the abandoned van July 13 near Hideaway Circle off Hyer Road. Inside the vehicle were a golden retriever and the van owner’s firearm, according to troopers, who said the dog had died of heat exhaustion.

The van’s owner is Mark Thompson, and the dog’s name was Flash, according to a Facebook post for the missing pet.

Jones and McDonnell were both charged with first-degree theft, two counts of second-degree theft, third-degree misconduct involving weapons and animal cruelty. Both were being held at Mat-Su Pretrial on $30,000 cash-only bail, including a court-appointed third party condition.