Dognappers are said to have murdered a man in his own house after a labradoodle was taken from the scene.

After being summoned to the site of a burglary in progress, police believe that Donald “Prentice” Patience, 45, and his property in Radcliffe, Manchester, were deliberately targeted.

On Tuesday (August 22), Patience was found dead in his house, and the police later learned that his cherished white labradoodle, Layla, had also been taken.

A man had carried the stolen labradoodle barely 160 feet from Patience’s house to a dog grooming shop when he called the police at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

Greater Manchester Police have stated that when the man was detained and the dog was seized, it was turned over to the proper authorities.

After conducting a post-mortem investigation, the Home Office came to the conclusion that his death was suspicious.

Patience was a “much-loved son, brother, and father and will be sorely missed by many, affectionately known as Prentice,” according to his family.

He and his ex-wife Kirsty had three kids together; Kirsty described him as a “incredible man” who “adored his children.”

She expressed her shock at the news on social media, saying, “We are all truly heartbroken at this news and we are all struggling to come to terms with his death.”

Family liaison officers are currently providing assistance to Patience’s family.

A 39-year-old male is currently being held by police on suspicion of murder, while two other men, aged 27 and 41, have been freed on bail as police continue their investigations.

“First, as a force, we would like to express our condolences to Donald’s loved ones at this extremely distressing time. We are doing everything we can to get the answers they deserve and find out what happened,” said Detective Chief Inspector Rachel Smith of the GMP’s Major Incident Team.

“Since we learned about this occurrence earlier this week, our investigation has been prompt and thorough. Three people have been taken into custody as a result of our inquiries, one of whom was present at the scene when the suspected burglary occurred.

“We are confident that it is a targeted attack,” the local public is assured. “I understand that there will be alarm when learning about this.”

Anyone with knowledge is urged to contact the investigators right away.

We are also making a request to the neighborhood for any eyewitness statements or video of any activity that we might be able to connect to this investigation.

We’re also asking for anyone who knows Donald, has seen him out and about with his beloved white labradoodle, or knows anything about anything that has happened at or close to his address on Ainsworth Road since Friday, August 18, 2023.

To help us put together what happened in this tragic occurrence where someone sadly lost their life, it is imperative that we collect as much information as we can.

No matter how tiny, your piece of information could be the vital piece of proof we need to advance this case. We are keeping all avenues of inquiry open.