A shocking incident involving a man who abandoned his German Shepherd in his vehicle during a night of debauchery at a brothel has taken another dramatic turn. It seems his wife has now distanced herself from him, adding further layers to this distressing tale.
During a session at Cleveland Magistrate’s Court, 43-year-old Nathan McKeown was visibly emotional as the court heard how his cherished family pet, Arnie, was left in a vehicle in Brisbane for ten days without food, water, or ventilation. The situation took a dark turn, unraveling a narrative that had previously captured public sympathy.
Only two months earlier, McKeown had reached out to the media, claiming that Arnie had been abducted by car thieves while asleep in the back of his ute outside a friend’s house in Wynnum. He even announced a $6000 reward, hoping for Arnie’s safe return, and igniting a fervent search effort.
In an effort that touched many, McKeown and his then-unaware wife launched a social media campaign. Their heartfelt plea resonated with Australians nationwide, who rallied behind them and condemned the supposed thieves for their inhumane act against an innocent pet.
Throughout this period, McKeown spoke to various media outlets, including the Daily Mail, expressing how much it would mean to have Arnie back. He extended his gratitude to the public for their support during what was perceived as a time of crisis.
However, the truth was far from what it seemed. McKeown had fabricated the story of the stolen car; in reality, he was too intoxicated to remember where he parked. Unable to confess the truth to his wife due to his engagement with a sex worker that night, the reality only came to light later, sending shockwaves through the community that had rallied around him.
In court on Thursday, Magistrate Deborah Vasta said McKeown’s lie that his ute had been stolen ‘snowballed from one bad decision to another’, escalating when his wife lodged a police report and the ‘find Arnie’ campaign went viral.
His parents flew from the UK to support their now unemployed son, but McKeown’s wife – the mother of his child – was nowhere to be seen.
Nathan McKeown is pictured with his wife and Arnie the German Shepherd
Nathan McKeown is pictured being swamped by journalists outside Cleveland Magistrate’s Court on Thursday
Nathan McKeown was supported in court by his lawyer, right, and his father, left, who flew from the UK
The situation unfolded at 2.30pm on November 7 when McKeown got home from work and placed Arnie in the ute, under an enclosed canopy, and drove to a number of locations, including a liquor store, the court heard.
He had a fight with a family member and drank at hotels around the Manly area while Arnie was locked inside the car.
CCTV showed him repeatedly leaving the vehicle to enter licensed venues, before returning to the car and driving off.
He continued drinking and taking drugs while driving through Brisbane CBD, until he parked on Amelia Street in Fortitude Valley at about 10.45pm.
Further CCTV showed a very drunk McKeown taking Arnie out of the ute for a few minutes, before locking him back inside and staggering off, the court heard.
He then entered a brothel, about 4km from Amelia Street, and was eventually asked to leave because he was ‘extremely intoxicated and belligerent’.
The venue owner previously told the Daily Mail: ‘He came in and booked a lady and stayed with that lady.’
‘We found it difficult to remove him and all he could talk about was that he had lost his car, but there was no talk of his dog [being inside it].
Footage obtained by the Daily Mail shows McKeown driving to Amelia Street, where police will allege he left his car with Arnie inside
Footage has emerged of police removing Arnie’s body after he was allegedly left abandoned in the vehicle (pictured)
Pictured: A missing dog poster created during the viral campaign to find Arnie
‘The girl told him to report it stolen, then he called his wife and said it had been taken.’
She said McKeown left of his own accord, and CCTV showed him returning to the business between 3am and 3.30am, but no staff member would see him.
He didn’t return to his car that night.
By the following day, McKeown had forgotten where he parked the car and reiterated the lie to his wife that the car had been stolen.
Ten days later, on November 17, Arnie’s body was uncovered when a member of the public complained about a foul stench coming from the parked ute in Fortitude Valley.
He was initially charged with breaching the duty of care to an animal, but the charge was later upgraded to one count of injuring animals (causing injury or death) by night under the Criminal Code.
Further charges included three counts of driving motor vehicle without a driver licence demerit points, and one count each of did drive under the influence, and serious obstruct police.
He pleaded guilty to every charge.
McKeown (pictured with Arnie) pleaded guilty to a range of charges, including driving a motor vehicle without a driver licence demerit points and while under the influence
Arnie’s disappearance and death touched the hearts of thousands of Australians who hoped for his safe return home
His lawyer Patrick Quinn told the court his client loved Arnie, who had been a member of the McKeown family from when he was a puppy, and did not intentionally kill the dog.
Mr Quinn told the court his client was receiving alcohol rehabilitation, and acknowledged the outcome would have been different had he told the truth.
‘He wanted to sincerely thank the police and the community for their extensive search for Arnie,’ Mr Quinn said.
‘He understands that had he been forthright from the start that those resources could have been employed in an appropriate, more focused manner.’
Magistrate Vasta said McKeown, who had no criminal history, lost his job due to security concerns, along with the trust of his wife and daughter.
‘Australian people really don’t like people who lie and the public were quite rightly betrayed and manipulated and used by you – for nine days they were out looking for your dog,’ she said.
‘But what has occurred is that there are some people out there who have used your stupid and terrible mistake as justification for some really intensive hatred.’
McKeown was sentenced to 240 hours of community service, with no convictions recorded, and disqualified from driving for eight months on the three driving offences.
