DISTRICT HEIGHTS, MD – A self-admitted dog fighter who was charged by the federal government last year for operating dog fighting events in Maryland was stabbed to death outside an apartment complex Friday morning.
The victim, Laron Mecco “Frog” West, was one of three men charged by U.S. District Attorney Jessica Aber in November for conspiracy and training and transporting dogs for participation in an animal fighting venue.
West pleaded guilty on November 10th.
In a post he made on an internet message board, West bragged about killing wounded dogs by throwing them to their death from a bridge.
In June 2017, Laron Mecco “Frog” West, age 46, from Forestville, Maryland, posted on the DMV Board that “we kill” fighting dogs that quit. In October 2018, West posted on the DMV Board that dogs that failed to fight aggressively enough had been killed. West wrote that he “loves to throw [the dogs] over the bridge and into the water.”
On Friday, West was found stabbed to death at around 10:55 am by police officers in the 3700 block of Donnell Drive.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
West was part of an online dog fighting message board called “The DMV Board” on the Telegram app.
“The DMV Board” or “The Board,” as a place where they and their associates could discuss training fighting dogs, exchange videos about dog fighting, and arrange and coordinate dog fights, away from the view of law enforcement authorities. Members of The DMV Board also used the messaging app to compare methods of killing dogs that lost fights, as well as to circulate media reports about conspirators who had been caught by law enforcement and discuss methods to minimize the likelihood that they would be caught themselves.
In August, West, Williams, Hilliard, and four others were indicted for a dog fighting conspiracy involving the “DMV Board.” Earlier this month,
West was scheduled to be sentenced for his conviction next Tuesday.