Patrick Zane Thompson. (Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office/Facebook)
The owner of Raging Cajun Smoking Barbecue sacrificed his family’s poodle during a fit of anger on Saturday that began when he was upset by the T-shirt his 17-year-old daughter was wearing, police in Arizona said.
Patrick Zane Thompson, 42, a former Arizona State University football player, was arrested by police at his home in Goodyear, KPHO-TV reports.
Thompson admitted to strangling the poodle and then putting it into the traveling smoker he uses for his business, according to court documents obtained by the news station.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. He Believed His Daughter’s Shirt Had to Do With the Devil & Said He Needed to Sacrifice a Male, Police Say
Patrick Zane Thompson and his wife. (Facebook)
Patrick Zane Thompson was angered by a T-shirt his 17-year-old daughter was wearing, because he thought it had to do with the devil, the Arizona Republic reports.
He first told his daughter to take off the shirt and then lit the smoker that was parked in his yard. He put the shirt into the smoker, burning, according to court documents obtained by KPHO-TV.
Thompson then went back into his house and became erratic, saying he had to sacrifice a male, according to court documents. He told police the Lord had told him he was going to be killed for what he had done, and he knew from his readings in the Bible he had to sacrifice a male. He chose the family’s poodle over himself and his 6-year-old son, according to police.
Police said he picked up his family’s white 15-pound poodle and strangled it until it could’t breathe. He told police he then had to put the dog into a “lake of fire” and that is when he put it into the smoker’s heating element.
Thompson has been married to his wife for 21 years and has four children, police said in the court documents.
2. His Daughter Says Her Father Had a ‘Mental Breakdown’ & ‘Turned to Drugs’
Patrick Zane Thompson. (Facebook)
Thompson’s daughter posted a statement from her family on the Raging Cajun Smoking Barbecue’s Facebook page on Monday:
Let me justify my dad had a mental breakdown from the stress of the business and other problems as a way of relieving stress he turned to drugs it wasn’t the most responsible decision but this could of happen to anyone of us. Just pray for us but um raging Cajun will be closed for a lil bit just until this tension settle down And until my dad feeling better and on his feet. Just pray please and thank you.
The post was later deleted and a second post said, “At this time we ask you to please keep the negative comments to yourself in light of his family who are seeing your comments and reviews. Pat is suffering from a deeply mental problem from being over stressed from the business. His family is grieving from this and we ask that you please give his family some peace.”
In a third post, Thompson’s daughter wrote:
Friends,Family,Cajunvites,Social media,news reporters, bloggers, doubters, team mates, co workers, and businesses We aren’t going to let this situation get to us were not gonna let the deceiver the devil get us down we gonna look up with our heads held high and have a smile on our faces because Jesus is the one that can protect him, guide him, unconditionally love, he has the one that has the last say what happens. When I think of the Goodness of Jesus and what he has done for me and my family I get happy because God can turn a stituation in to a breakthrough praise party.As my dad would say we need to be strong prayed up FIERCED LEOPARDS have faith. As for the business we would not be closing it it’s going to remain open and stronger as ever !!. Don’t let this situation change how you feel about him, he’s a good man has a caring attitude, good husband, and loving father etc. God has all this in his hands. Keep the faith don’t give up its only a test, no what your going through don’t give up its only a test, hold on be strong its only a test
Thompson told police he had smoked marijuana earlier in the day on Saturday and had an “episode,” according to KPHO-TV.
He was found by police outside of his home in Goodyear, with a self-inflicted wound to his arm. He said he went outside to surrender to God and pray after sacrificing the dog, according to court documents.
Thompson told the responding officers he had to “do it for God” and “the Devil made me do it.”
3. He Was a Starting Offensive Lineman for Arizona State in 1996 & Was as a Social Worker for the State of Arizona
(Facebook)
Thompson graduated from Arizona State University in 1996 with a degree in social work, according to his LinkedIn profile.
He played football for the Sun Devils and was a starting offensive lineman his senior year, according to the school’s website.
He became the starting right guard after one of his classmate’s suffered an ankle injury.
Thompson, who is originally from Louisiana, worked as a social worker for the state of Arizona in 2000. He was a case manager for the Department of Economic Security until 2015.
4. He Has Owned the Barbecue Business Since 2010
(Facebook)
Thompson started the Raging Cajun Smoking Barbecue business in 2010, according to his Facebook page.
“Raging Cajun Smoking Barbecue is a mobile catering company and we are able to customize our menu for your special event or party. The owner, Pat Thompson is a New Orleans native and knows how to provide great barbecue with a mild flavor or the traditional New Orleans spicy favor,” the business’s website says.
5. He Is Being Held on $20,000 Bail at a Maricopa County Jail
(Facebook)
Thompson is being held at a Maricopa County Jail on $20,000 bail. His next court appearance is set for May 23.
He was charged with two felonies and four misdemeanors. The charges include animal cruelty, assault, threats against his family and tampering with evidence.
