Steven Clay Romero, 37, of Grand Junction, did "knowingly torture, needlessly mutilate and needlessly kill" the dog, according to the indictment.

The grand jury alleged that Romero tied a rope around the bumper of a vehicle and tied the other end of the rope around Buddy's neck and dragged the German shepherd mix until it died.

Romero's sister, Marie Lockhart, 32, of Fruita, was also indicted.

According to an affidavit by rangers for the National Park Service, an initial investigation showed that "Buddy" was stolen from downtown Delta on Dec. 29 and taken to a home in Fruita where Romero was staying.

Early the next day, about 2 a.m., Romero allegedly took Buddy from the Fruita home and returned to the home without him 30 minutes later.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Denver, video surveillance at the west entrance of the monument, which is near Fruita, showed a double-cab pickup truck entering the monument with Buddy in the bed of the truck.

Cameras in the outbound lane showed the same truck leaving the monument later without the dog.

According to Joan Anzelmo, superintendent of the national monument, footprints in the snow clearly showed how the crime was committed. Buddy initially walked, then ran and then was dragged when he couldn't keep up with the vehicle.

The head of maintenance at the monument found Buddy with the rope around his neck.

Weir makes no secret of his love of fashion—fur included—and he’s received letters and videos from PETA and other animal-rights advocates over the years. Although he respects their positions and was fully aware of how pelts are obtained, Weir has said wearing fur was a personal choice.