A federal grand jury this week indicted a Georgia man who allegedly drove to Florida, where he savagely beat and threatened his ex-girlfriend and killed her dog.

Timothy Crawford, 52, was charged with interstate domestic violence, discharge of a firearm during a violent crime, and interstate stalking.

United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida Roger B. Handberg said that Crawford drove from Atlanta to Odessa, Florida on December 7, 2023, and broke into his ex-girlfriend’s house at about 8 p.m. that night and waited for her return, armed with a pistol and a stun gun.

“When M.B. arrived, Crawford punched, kicked and electrically stunned M.B. numerous times, while telling her that he was going to kill her and her children,” Handberg said in a statement. “M.B. defended herself with a dumbbell, and ultimately escaped the residence.

“Before departing, Crawford shot and killed M.B.’s dog, an eight-pound Maltese.”

A neighbor who heard the woman’s screams called 911. Hillsborough County sheriff’s deputies took Crawford into custody and found an H&K USP .40 caliber pistol on the dining room table and saw blood “all over the house, including in the garage, laundry room, bedroom, and front entry area.”

M.B., the ex-girlfriend, suffered severe injuries, “including extensive buising to her body, neck, and face, stun-gun burns, a fractured left orbital bone, nose, ring finger/hand, and a laceration to her head requiring stitches.”

The US Attorney said that Crawford admitted what he did, and that search warrants on his phone showed that prior to the brutal attack, he asked a search engine, “do you get the death penalty if you kill a woman.”

Crawford faces 10 years to life in prison if he is convicted.

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[Featured image: Timothy Crawford/Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office]