Florida Man Accused of Killing Neighbor's 12-Year-Old Pet Pig, Nicknamed 'Spam'

Aug. 3, 2011 — -- A Florida man is behind bars, accused of stealing and turning his neighbor's pet pig, named "Spam," into pork parts.

David Howard King, 36, is being held on $200,000 bond after being arrested Monday by the Wakulla County Sheriff's Office. He faces charges of animal cruelty, grand theft of livestock and possession of prescription pills.

King was the target of an undercover sting involving prescription pills, said Keith Blackmar, a public information officer for the sheriff's office.

"They did not find any pills at his tattoo business but they did find the pork parts from this potbellied pig that had been reported stolen on July 28," Blackmar said.

As officials investigated King at the Apocalyptic Tattoo Shop, King admitted to shooting the pig and officers found six plastic bags of pork parts. Officers also found a .32 caliber gun that was used to kill the pig, Blackmar said.

Jeff Huff, 66, the owner of the pig, said that he was out of town in late July when Spam went missing. The neighbor who was taking care of the pig and his four cats alerted Huff.

When he heard that his pig was missing, he returned to Panacea, Fla., from Georgia. The retired firefighter confronted King but walked away because he could feel his blood pressure rising. Huff said that the pig, Spam, was like a child to he and his wife.

"Each time I go out and I look down I'm looking at his pen," he said. "Each time my wife mentions it, she gets to crying. ... I sure will miss him."

Huff nicknamed the pig "Spam" because he was so little when he got him 12 years ago.

"He was too little to be nicknamed 'ham,'" Huff said.

Huff fed the pig dried dog food and kept his pen cool with mud.

"When he comes up to love you, he's got dirt on him," Huff said. "He probably licked the gun barrel. ... All he wanted to do is be loved and petted."