A Hutchinson couple expected in court Wednesday for a status hearing in an animal cruelty case didn’t show and according to statements made in court, the two were involved in an accident near Council Bluffs, Iowa.

24-year-old Bradlee Ellis and 20-year-old Emileigh Martens are charged after they allegedly killed a kitten by taking turns throwing it against doors and walls.

Judge Joe McCarville noted that Ellis is an over the road trucker and apparently rolled the semi he was in. He says the accident is causing a delay in them being able to appear in court.  So, he continued their hearings.

Assistant District Attorney Daniel Gilligan noted that the state wants some verification of any hospital stay as a result of the accident.

The couple were arrested in the Reno County case after police discovered the dead kitten after responding to the a “check on welfare” call involving a disturbance on back on October 20. The couple told police that they were upset that the kitten was going to the bathroom inside.

Police found the dead kitten in the couple’s home while responding to a disturbance.

The couple live at the same address and Ellis was also arrested for domestic battery.