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Union County woman says son attacked her, killed her dog

UNION COUNTY, N.C. — A Union County family was torn apart after a young man was accused of attacking his mother and killing her dog.

Lynn Richardson will never forget the day she said her son assaulted her. She has pictures of the bruises as a reminder of what happened.

“I was pulled from the couch into the kitchen and my face hit the refrigerator and he picked me up and body-slammed me,” she said.

Her injuries can heal, but she said what he did next to her pet Chihuahua, Remi, will haunt her forever.

“He said, ‘I’m going to show you.’ He picked Remi off the couch and just snapped her neck,” Lynn Richardson said.

Justin Richardson, 24, was arrested. He is Lynn Richardson’s only child.

Tony Underwood with the Union County Sheriff’s Office said that type of animal abuse is rare.

“Mr. Richardson faces charges for misdemeanor assault, a felony cruelty to animals charge and a misdemeanor charge of communicating threats,” he said.

When the staff at the county animal services heard about Lynn Richardson’s loss, they gave her a new dog.

She named her Tinker Bell and she is a 1 1/2 years old.

It’s given her some comfort, but she keeps Remi’s ashes nearby.

She has concerns about a looming court date where she will see Justin Richardson for the first time since she said he attacked her.

“I’m scared,” Lynn Richardson said.

She said her son has sent threatening messages.

“If I show up in court, I’m going to end up like my dog,” Lynn Richardson said.

She is determined to be there and asked the judge to order Justin Richardson to take anger management classes.

“I feel if I don’t, it will give Justin the option to keep walking away from what he causes and not getting help for it, so I have to,” Lynn Richardson said.

Justin Richardson will be in court Tuesday.

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