Man on 'Spiritual Fast' Accused of Brutally Murdering His Addiction Sponsor and Dog

James Dorr’s mug shot. Photo courtesy of the Green Bay Police Department.

A Green Bay man’s “spiritual fast” ended in bloodshed when he allegedly stabbed his addiction sponsor to death and left the victim’s dead dog hidden under a bed. Now, chilling new details about what fueled the violence are starting to emerge.

Sponsor Found Stabbed 27 Times

Officers arrived at a Green Bay residence on January 28 to find a gruesome scene. The victim, identified in court documents only as D.V., was found dead in the doorway. His dog, Benji, was discovered lifeless under a bed.

An autopsy revealed D.V. suffered 27 sharp force injuries. Court documents state that James Dorr, 34, later admitted to stabbing D.V. “a bunch of times,” as reported by PEOPLE.

A ‘Spiritual’ Fast Spirals Into Violence

According to the criminal complaint, Dorr told police he had been on a “spiritual” fast for about two days without food or water. He reported seeing disturbing visions involving his daughter and her mother being brutally murdered and believed the world was ending.

Dorr also admitted to consuming alcohol the night before and using methamphetamine earlier on the day of the stabbing. Officers noted that he appeared disoriented, telling them he had lost track of the day, time, and even the month.

Despite stating that he and his sponsor had been getting along prior to the attack, Dorr’s mental state appears to have unraveled quickly under the combined influence of fasting, substance use, and paranoia.

Arrest and Charges

Dorr’s wallet was found at the scene, and he was arrested while walking nearby. He allegedly confessed to killing both D.V. and Benji during police interviews, according to PEOPLE.
Authorities have charged Dorr with first-degree intentional homicide, mistreatment of animals, possession of methamphetamine, obstructing an officer, and resisting an officer.

A Deadly End to a Trusted Bond

D.V. was reportedly serving as Dorr’s addiction sponsor, offering support during his recovery journey, Fox 11 reported. Instead, what began as a relationship of guidance and trust ended in a brutal betrayal, leaving a man and his dog dead.

Dorr has entered a not guilty plea and is scheduled to return to court on June 13 for a status conference.

References: Man on ‘Spiritual’ Fast Accused of Killing Addiction Sponsor - and Leaving Victim’s Dog Dead Under the Bed | Man charged with murdering addiction sponsor and killing dog pleads not guilty