Morning Roundup: Police retrieve dogs left alone in Verona after owner is jailed

Here are some of the latest news items happening this morning, Friday, June 20:

Dogs retrieved from Verona house after being left alone

Two dogs were retrieved Thursday from a Verona home on Penn Street after they were left unattended.

Verona Police Chief Tom Dessell said the dogs have been unattended since their owner, David Mszyco, 34, was taken into custody June 12 for a parole violation, TribLive news partner WTAE reported.

Mszyco, a convicted sex offender who was sentenced to four years’ probation in April, was put in jail for violating his conditions a week ago, according to Dessell.

Residents along the street had been hearing the dogs bark from inside and were concerned for their safety.

“A family member was taking care of the dogs, and then, from information we have received, that stopped because of a medical issue, and we’re trying to ascertain how long it’s been since the animals have been cared for,” Dessell said. “We can see them in the windows. They look healthy for the most part, but we want to make sure that they are fed and properly cared for.”

Officers were able to gain access to save the dogs after police filed a warrant to gain access, WTAE said. Before the warrant was filed, Dessell said he had been trying to get permission from the incarcerated homeowner.

Pittsburgh police continue their search for missing people

Since February, Pittsburgh police have been searching for Jay Ketter, also known as JR or Dribble.

Ketter, 45, was last seen in the area of East Warrington Avenue and Arlington Avenue in Pittsburgh’s Allentown neighborhood. Police said he’s described as 6 feet tall, approximately 200 pounds, with brown/hazel eyes and a brown/grayish beard.

On Thursday, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police said on Facebook it has received “valuable information concerning Jay’s disappearance” and it’s now asking the public to come forward with more information to contribute to the investigation.

Also missing is 11-year-old Darayia Preston. Police said she was last seen at approximately 4:30 p.m. Sunday in the 7100 block of Race Street in Homewood.

She is described as 5-foot-6, weighing 120 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair.

Police said she frequents Northview Heights, Rhine Place and the Pressley High Rise, according to the Facebook post.

Anyone with information on either person should call the Pittsburgh Police Special Victims Unit at (412) 323-7141. In the case of Preston, people with information can also call 911, police said.