Penn State professor accused of bestiality begged to be killed, court docs show
An award-winning Penn State professor who has been arrested in a sickening bestiality case involving his pet collie begged rangers to shoot him, telling them “I need to die” — as it was claimed that he’s been performing lewd acts in a state forest for nearly a decade, according to court documents.
Themis Matsoukas, 64, became “nervous” and then began to “panic” when officials from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) showed up on his doorstep earlier this month to search his home, after he was allegedly caught on a trail camera performing sexual acts with his dog.
“I’m done, I’m dead, you don’t understand, I do it to blow off steam,” Matsoukas, a well-regarded chemistry engineering professor, was quoted as telling the rangers, according to an affidavit cited by the news outlet WTAJ.
He then reportedly “begged” the DCNR officials executing the search to kill him.
“What do I have to do to get you to shoot me? I need to die,” Matsoukas pleaded.
Matsoukas was arraigned Tuesday on charges of open lewdness, indecent exposure, sexual intercourse with an animal and animal cruelty.
The professor’s dramatic fall from grace came nearly two months after a trail camera installed by the DCNR at Rothrock State Forest in Pennsylvania allegedly captured Matsoukas on the night of April 13 walking naked from the waist down with his pet collie.
The shocking footage reportedly showed the professor wearing nothing but a ski mask, boots with socks, and a wristwatch, and carrying a North Face backpack.
Matsoukas reportedly could be seen masturbating near a women’s public restroom, before “engaging in a sexual act with the dog,” according to the affidavit.
The man also allegedly tried to record his antics with the collie using a silver iPad.
DCNR investigators later obtained six images from other trail cameras in the area dating back to 2014 showing what appeared to be the same man wandering through the woods in the buff.
Last month, rangers spotted the familiar visitor with the North Face backpack on one of the trail cameras and tracked him back to his vehicle, a green Subaru Outback.
The investigators then obtained his license plate number and were able to match his DMV photo to the other images of the nude man in the woods.
The probe culminated in the search of Matsoukas’ home, during which rangers reportedly seized several items that were seen on the April 13 trail camera video, including the ski mask, North Face backpack and silver iPad.
The Penn State professor’s collie, which was in the house, also reportedly matched the dog in the revolting trail camera footage.
Matsoukas has taught at prestigious Penn State University since 1991, earning at least three professional accolades, including the 2017 Premier Teaching Award.
The school told the Center Daily Times this week that the professor “has been relieved of his responsibilities and is on leave.”
Matsoukas is due back in court for a preliminary hearing on July 19.
