Surveillance video captures vehicle running over and killing family dog

LAS CRUCES - Jude's first adventure was an hours-long car ride from Arizona to his new home in Colorado. Jude, an Australian shepherd, found comfort in Kellie Etz's lap and quickly formed a bond with his new human.

Jude and Kellie would have many more adventures — hiking in the mountains, early morning chores on the ranch and a growing family that included more humans to protect. 

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Kellie married Jared Curry, a builder from Las Cruces, and the three of them moved to New Mexico. Daughters Peyton, now 6, and Harper, now 3, followed, as well as Finn, another Australian shepherd, who is 2 years old.

Jude protected them all, and throughout their 10-plus years together, he rarely left Kellie's side.

"Everybody who knows me, knows Jude," Kellie said Saturday, a day after Jude left for good, his dead body picked up by the Doña Ana County Sheriff's Office as evidence of a horrific encounter with a vehicle on the Currys' property.

At 2:58 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16, a black Chevrolet Camaro drove onto the Currys' property, along a gravel path that goes behind their secluded home, built by Jared, in the Organ Mesa Ranch subdivision, behind Torturgas "A" Mountain.

The Currys were not home at the time. But Jude and Finn were, and surveillance cameras captured them sleeping on the porch and then being awakened by the incoming vehicle.

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Cameras show the Camaro approach the home and park. No one gets out of the car. But when Jude and Finn respond, the driver of the Camaro decides to leave. The driver speeds away from the home. The Camaro hits Jude on its way out and drags him for several feet underneath the car before leaving the dog, writhing in pain, along the gravel path.

Kellie Curry, with Peyton and Harper in tow, would arrive a half an hour later. As she pulls in, she sees Jude laying motionless in the driveway. It's too late, Jude is gone.

"I can't pull in my driveway, the kids are screaming. I don't know what happened, but I know something is wrong," she said. Finn is nowhere in sight. Later, Kellie said, she finds him cowering in a corner in the back of the house.

Kellie's cousin, who was coming over to check on some building plans, arrives at the house shortly after she does and is able to help her take control of the situation. Jared also returns to the house and they look at surveillance video.

Christina Major, Jared's sister, posted video of the Camaro running over Jude to Facebook. It was shared more than 2,000 times in the first 15 hours. Commenters have pointed out details on the Camaro — it has a stock spoiler, a decal in the front driver's side window, black rims.

"The community has been really awesome," Kellie said. "We have people offering to enhance the video, we've gotten leads, friends are going out to see if they can find the Camaro."

Sheriff's deputies arrived at the Currys' home on Friday evening and have begun an investigation, Kellie said. The deputies left with Jude's body as evidence.

DASO officials couldn't be reached for comment Saturday and it's not clear what kind of criminal charges the driver might be facing. 

The Curry family is offering a $1,000 reward for information.

Kellie said the family moved to Organ Mesa Ranch for seclusion and security. They live on an acre of land and don't have neighbors within 500 yards. It's a place her daughters and dogs could play without worrying about traffic, she said. The dogs always provided protection.

"(Jude) was just doing his job and he paid the price," Kellie said.

Lucas Peerman can be reached at 575-541-5446, lpeerman@lcsun-news.com or on Twitter @LittleGuyInATie.