Wichita ? Police in Wichita say the city’s latest homicide began with a dispute over a dog.

Officers found 47-year-old John Tolliver dead in his apartment early Sunday, the apparent victim of a beating. Tolliver’s former girlfriend was later arrested along with two men on suspicion of burglary and felony murder.

Police believe the ex-girlfriend wanted to get her dog back from Tolliver. Investigators say the suspects burglarized his home Saturday night and took the dog.

When Tolliver got home and found the dog was missing, police say he sent the woman a series of angry text messages. Authorities believe the two male suspects returned to the home and beat him.

KSNW-TV reports the killing was the 17th homicide of the year in Wichita, one short of the total for all of last year.