Samuel Burkybile – Jefferson City, Missouri

Registry Notice

This entry is supported by a Statement of Probable Cause prepared by the Cole County Sheriff's Office and electronically filed in Missouri court case 26AC-CR00458.

The court document identifies Samuel Lee Burkybile as the defendant and states that the reporting officer had probable cause to believe Burkybile committed Animal Abuse under Missouri law, along with two counts of second-degree domestic assault.

A probable-cause statement documents allegations supporting a criminal case. It is not the same as a criminal conviction. Unless and until a conviction or other final court disposition is independently documented, the allegations described in the criminal case should not be presented as having been proven at trial.

Case Summary

Samuel Lee Burkybile of the Jefferson City, Missouri area was identified in a Cole County Sheriff's Office probable-cause statement concerning an alleged animal-abuse incident involving a cat in February 2026.

According to the officer's sworn probable-cause statement, law enforcement responded to a Cole County residence on February 8, 2026, regarding an animal-abuse or neglect report.

The investigating officer documented that the reporting victim had been away from the residence for work beginning February 6 and had left five cats inside the home. During that period, one of the cats was reported missing.

According to the probable-cause statement, when the victim returned home on February 8, she discovered the missing cat dead, wrapped in two trash bags, inside an outside trash can.

Discovery of Deceased Cat

The probable-cause statement reports that the victim removed the trash bags and found the missing cat deceased.

The investigating officer documented personally observing the deceased cat and reported seeing dried blood coming from the animal's mouth. The officer also noted that rigor mortis had begun.

The court document further states that the victim advised law enforcement that Burkybile was the only person who had access to the five indoor cats during the relevant period.

Reported Prior Treatment of Cats

According to the probable-cause statement, the victim told the investigating officer that Burkybile had previously been abusive toward her cats.

The separate submission provided to the DNA Registry contains additional allegations concerning the treatment of the cats, including the submitter's belief that more than one cat had been harmed and that abuse may have occurred before the February 2026 incident.

Those additional allegations are not established by the probable-cause document currently available to the Registry and should be distinguished from the specific facts documented by the investigating officer.

Second Cat Allegation

The submitter alleges that two of her indoor cats were killed while she was away from the residence.

The Cole County Sheriff's Office probable-cause statement provided to the DNA Registry specifically documents the discovery of one deceased cat wrapped in trash bags in an outside trash can.

Based on the documentation currently available, the DNA Registry has not independently established the circumstances surrounding the second cat referenced by the submitter. The Registry therefore does not present the alleged death of a second cat as an independently verified fact.

Reported Blood Evidence

The submitter additionally alleges that one of the cats had previously been struck with sufficient force to leave blood on a wall.

The probable-cause statement does document the investigating officer's observation of dried blood coming from the mouth of the deceased cat. However, the document currently available does not establish that blood observed elsewhere in the residence came from that cat or establish precisely how the animal sustained its injuries.

Other Reported Animal Welfare Concerns

The submitter states that after discussing the situation with a member of Burkybile's family, she learned of concerns regarding his alleged prior treatment of another dog.

The DNA Registry has not received an independent statement from that individual or law-enforcement, veterinary, or animal-control documentation concerning the reported dog. That allegation therefore remains unverified and is included only as information reported to the Registry.

Law Enforcement Investigation

The Cole County Sheriff's Office probable-cause statement identifies Matthew Nenninger as the complainant/reporting officer.

The officer stated under oath that he had probable cause to believe Burkybile committed the offenses identified in the document.

The listed offenses include:

• Animal Abuse – Missouri §578.012
• Domestic Assault – Second Degree – Missouri §565.073
• Domestic Assault – Second Degree – Missouri §565.073

The domestic-assault allegations are noted because they appear in the same probable-cause statement but are not the primary subject of this animal-abuse registry entry.

Timeline

Supporting Documentation Submitted

Two screenshots of Missouri court documentation were submitted to the DNA Registry.

The screenshots show a two-page Cole County Sheriff's Office Statement of Probable Cause associated with Missouri court case 26AC-CR00458.

Unlike an unsupported third-party allegation, this documentation provides law-enforcement and court-filed support for the existence of an animal-abuse investigation and the allegations described by the investigating officer.

The documentation does not, by itself, establish a conviction or final disposition of the criminal case.

Known Location

Jefferson City, Missouri

Verification Status

Third-party report received: Yes
Court documentation submitted: Yes
Cole County Sheriff's Office probable-cause statement submitted: Yes
Criminal court case number documented: Yes – 26AC-CR00458
Animal Abuse offense identified in probable-cause statement: Yes
Law-enforcement response documented: Yes
One deceased cat documented by investigating officer: Yes
Cat reportedly found wrapped in trash bags: Yes – documented in probable-cause statement
Dried blood observed by investigating officer: Yes
Second deceased cat independently documented: No
Prior abuse of cats reported to officer: Yes – allegation recorded in probable-cause statement
Prior abuse involving another dog independently verified: No
Animal-abuse conviction established by submitted documentation: No

Important Legal Status Notice

This entry differs from reports based solely on an individual's submission because official law-enforcement and court-filed probable-cause documentation has been provided.

However, probable cause is not equivalent to a conviction. The criminal allegations against Samuel Burkybile should be treated as allegations unless a guilty plea, conviction, or other final disposition is documented.

Animal Placement Due Diligence

Shelters, rescues, foster organizations, breeders, and private individuals considering an animal placement should independently review available court records, animal-control history, veterinary references, prior animal ownership history, and other relevant information before making a placement decision.

Source Documentation

• Cole County Sheriff's Office – Statement of Probable Cause
• Missouri Court Case No. 26AC-CR00458
• Two court-document screenshots submitted to the DNA Registry

Correction, Response, or Case Update

If additional court records establish dismissal, amendment of charges, a guilty plea, conviction, acquittal, sentencing, or another final disposition, the DNA Registry should update this entry to accurately reflect the current status of the criminal case.

If Samuel Burkybile or another person with relevant information believes this entry contains inaccurate or incomplete information, supporting documentation may be submitted to the DNA Registry for review.