'Disgusting And Inhumane': Jerod Mayo's Missing Bulldog Found Dead; Dog Trainer Accused Of Hiding Body

CRANSTON, RI (CBS) - Former Patriots defensive captain Jerod Mayo's bulldog, reported missing earlier in the summer, has been found dead in a dog trainer's home.

That dog trainer, Amelia Ferreira, is now being charged with obstruction.

"If I call an Uber, I expect that Uber has already vetted this driver," Mayo said. "We thought Off Leash Canine already went through the vetting process with Amelia."

Mayo and his family are devastated to learn their dog was found dead.

"To think that he was in a trash bag? Is that what they really thought of him? That he was a piece of trash?" Chantel Mayo said.

The family was supposed to pick up Knox in late May.

Wrentham police posted in June about the "mysterious" circumstances surrounding the disappearance of Knox the English bulldog. They said the trainer lost track of Knox and he "simply vanished." Police noted that English bulldogs aren't built to run very far and his e-collar was found nearby, adding to the mystery.

The Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said Monday that authorities located the bulldog's body at Ferreira's Cranston home. The group said the bulldog died while in Ferreira's custody.

"Ferreira is being charged by the Cranston Police Department, with one count of Obstruction, for concealing evidence relevant to this investigation," RISPCA said. "Evidence revealed that Ferreira has known the whereabouts of Knox's deceased body for several weeks and intentionally concealed his body from authorities."

In an Instagram post on Monday, Mayo blasted the dog training company.

"It's disgusting and inhumane that a company full of 'dog lovers' would hide a family pet IN A CLOSET FOR TWO MONTHS and compulsively lie and send us on a wild goose hunt and our kids on an emotional rollercoaster," Mayo wrote. "It hurts to have to accept that our beloved Knox was thought of as trash as they saw our family hurting."

Mayo said his family hired SCUBA teams, private investigators and lawyers to find out what happened to Knox.

"Think about the resources that were wasted both personal and also law enforcement," Jerod Mayo said. "There were police officers that were called out to Wrentham to look for a dog that was never in Wrentham."

Ferreira was arraigned Monday.

"Obstruction should be the least of the charges," Jerod Mayo said. "No one should feel this feeling we're going through right now," Chantel added.

Ferreira could face additional charges related to animal cruelty, depending on necropsy results.