Ex-girlfriend's pet snake killed; jail cash the motive, police say

A man upset over his ex-girlfriend not posting money to his account during a recent stay behind bars illegally entered her North Little Rock apartment and killed her pet snake, authorities said.

Martanious D. Cox, 30, remained in the Pulaski County jail Monday morning after his arrest a day earlier at the apartment at 800 N. Beech St. He faces charges including burglary, criminal mischief and cruelty to animals.

According to a North Little Rock police report, officers responded early Sunday morning to a burglary call and arrested Cox as he was leaving his ex-girlfriend's apartment.

Police say Cox immediately acknowledged entering the apartment after a woman who wasn't his ex-girlfriend exited and left the door open. He then broke a television and killed the pet snake, leaving it on the kitchen floor, the report said. Cox is also accused of damaging an apartment window and the victim's vehicle outside.

"Cox stated he was in jail ... and his ex-girlfriend ... was supposed to put money on his book, but she did not," police wrote in the report. "Cox stated he started drinking then became upset and came over."

Police say the snake's tank was observed broken on the kitchen counter near where it was found dead. It wasn't clear how it was killed.

The victim, who police say had not been in a relationship with Cox in more than 6 months, was "very distraught" when authorities told her the pet snake had been killed, the report said.

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