Florida Police Seek Kitty Serial Killer

June 10, 2009

"You are the Great Cat, the avenger of the gods, and the judge of words, and the president of the sovereign chiefs, and the governor of the holy circle; you are indeed the Great Cat."

The above quote was once inscribed on a royal tomb in Ancient Egypt. At the time, cats were fiercely protected and treated as gods. Fast forward a few thousand years, and cats’ privileged position has somewhat waned; however, they remain a choice pet, with approximately 70 million cats living in the United States alone. Therefore, it is no surprise that a serial cat killer is causing an uproar in Florida, to the extent that police and the community at large are anxious to see the perpetrator caught and punished for his or her misdeeds.

For the past month, cat owners in two suburban South Miami-Dade neighborhoods have been finding their beloved cats murdered and mutilated. Many of the feline victims were gutted and skinned, while others were found drained of blood and missing limbs.

"It's just evil times, horrible times," local resident Carol Barber said in an interview with sun-sentinel.com. "This is just awful."

One of the earlier victims, "Miss Kitty," was found dead in a yard next to her owner's house. The cat's skull was crushed, and her hind legs were skinned. The brutal killing still haunts Miss Kitty's owner, Mary Lou Shad, who says she is reminded of the incident every time she hears of another killing.

"I'm in their shoes and I see my cat again," Mary Lou told the Associated Press. "I feel terrorized to the point where, everywhere I go, I'm looking for dead cats on the side of the road."

Since May 11, at least two dozen domestic cats have been found dead in the Palmetto Bay and Cutler Bay areas. While police in both neighborhoods do not deny the deaths, they disagree on what is causing them. Miami-Dade police officials blame a human for the killings, whereas Lauderhill police think another animal or animals, possibly a pack of wild dogs, are responsible.

''It appears an animal is doing this,'' Lauderhill police spokesman Rick Rocco told miamiherald.com, citing the recent capture of a stray pit bull that he feels is part of a pack that has been roaming the area.

While it is possible the cases are unrelated, Miami-Dade police are convinced that a person is responsible for at least some of the murders.

''We take a very dim view of this,'' Miami-Dade police spokesman Bobby Williams said in an interview with the same Web site. “We find it very disturbing that an individual would do something like this to defenseless animals.''

According to Williams, Miami-Dade police have collected enough evidence in 15 of the cases to prosecute. The only thing they need is a suspect.

Jack Levin, a criminology professor at Northeastern University in Boston, told gazette.com that he finds the attacks worrisome, as many notorious serial human killers began their life of crime torturing and killing animals.

"They are deciding who lives and dies and how much the animal suffers. It gives them a sense of control and dominance," he said.

Levin is not the only one concerned about the attacks. Several local residents have already expressed concerns that the kitty killer might turn to humans next.

"Is this possible? Of course," Rebecca Perez, a detective with the Miami-Dade Police Department, told gazette.com, adding, "We have no way of knowing or predicting that."

So, while the mystery of who and why remains, officials are warning cat owners to keep a short leash on their pets.

"Residents should keep their cats inside their homes until it has been determined who or what has caused these deaths and there is no longer a threat to the feline population of the village,'' Palmetto Bay Mayor Eugene Flinn said in a recent press release.

Many local residents are taking heed of the warnings and no longer allowing their cats the freedom to explore the outdoors. Instead, some owners are posting signs about the kitty killer throughout the area. One such sign reads, in part, "Be aware that there is a psychopathic coward killing cats."

Meanwhile, police in nearby Broward County suspect that a copy-cat cat killer could be responsible for recent killings in that area. At least two of the victims were mutilated in manner similar to the killings in other areas.

According to officials in Broward County, they are comparing notes with Miami-Dade investigators to determine if a link between the cases exists. In the mean time, residents will have to wait and wonder where the kitty serial killer is going to strike next.

In Ancient Egypt, cat killers were put to death. Today, the punishment is significantly less severe, especially in Florida, where animal cruelty is considered a third-degree felony, which is punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 and or imprisonment of up to 5 years.

A reward in excess of $12,000 is being offered for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the kitty killings. Anyone with information is asked to contact Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477 or Miami-Dade Animal Services Investigator Fernando J. Casadevall Jr. at 305-884-1102, ext. 240.

Photo Credit: Alicia Glatzer holds a family photo of one her cats, Sarah, Tuesday, June 9, 2009 in her south Miami home. Sarah is one of many cats that has been killed in the area. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission from Discovery Communications. All quotes must include a link back.

Comments

[katmando]

unless you want the nonsensesical apprisal of these events( SUCH AS THE PERP MIGHT BE CHIEF-INSPECTOR DREYFUES ) let me clue you in on my intuitive expertise on this matter; you are giving this young hormonally-charged psycho- sexual deviant a big heroin-type rush by publicizing the crimes..you may even trigger a signiture jump in his crime-spree to human victims..advise reevaluation with FBI at QUANTICO for behavior analysis!

[Steven L. Ervin]

This is a horrible that anyone could possibly do such things to a poor little innocent ceature. This mentally disturbed person should be so lucky as to have a pet owner do the same to them! However why is it that cat owners allow their pets to wander through neighborhoods unimpeded or unleashed. Dogs are not allowed to do so. Cats kill and destroy countless birds and other small animals on these wanderings and nobody cares about that, therefore I would suggest people keep their pets inside until this monster is caught. It would be a beautiful world if man and all the creatures of this world could co-exist in harmony however man will not allow such things to happen. Nature is by far more beautiful than this false environment that man has created and wandering animals is not something that PEOPLE tolerate. What a shame that man believes he is the master of all things, how arrogant!!

[Val]

It`s a stinkin cat people! It`s kinda sad and all but Get Over it!

[Me me me]

While I empathize with the people who have lost their cats and the way in which they were killed, does anyone realize that this cat killer seems to be getting more mileage and coverage than Haleigh Cummings?

[tb]

to val,
hope you get the same treatment.

[El Coyote]

Cats may be gods. But the little $%$# don't have a right to come and $#@! in my wife's flower beds. Keep your cats at home. We have to keep our dogs at home. I don't come and #@!$ in your yard do I ? A .22 pistol is the perfect solution. If you want to keep them, fine keep them at home.

[Tyree]

Just another reason that cats should be kept inside, where they are safer and healthier. Leash laws do apply to cats as well as to dogs.

[Sheila]

Righto. Cats shouldn't EVER be allowed outside. They are domesticated, indoor animals, that cannot survive outdoors. I know, I have tried when I adopted close to 9 unwanted (mom with kitties)little ones. When they were 6 months old, a friend of mine let me take them to his farm, and within just days, all of them died, save for one, whom I rescued under the barn (lured out by Long John Silver's). Some were killed by a rat or rats, some by another animal, and it was too cold that week, so some froze to death. My vet also says that they can catch diseases much easier than dogs. And right-on to the person who mentioned that this was a stepping-stone to other perversions, notably murder...I agree. Another psychopath loose...raise the reward and catch this sucker!!!

[Sheila]

Hey Val...need some attention, huh? What if I said you were just a stinkin' human, which is what many people think who commit murder for 1.00 or less. God said "we humans" are supposed to watch out for our domestic animals that he created (dogs, cats, cattle, etc.), so, show some empathy and, if you are a caring human, start acting like it.

[Lindsay]

Love how the police spokesman is quick to blame a "stray pit bull". Not a stray dog, but a stray pit bull.

I swear, people will blame anything on a stray pit bull if they think others will buy into it.

[Crimson]

"It`s a stinkin cat people! It`s kinda sad and all but Get Over it!

Posted by: Val | June 11, 2009 at 09:56 AM"

I couldn't agree more. At least it's not human beings...

[SAD]

I HOPE THIS PERSON /PEOPLE FRY AND SUFFER FOR WHAT THEY ARE DOING

[HOPEFUL]

I HAVE FAITH IN GOD THAT THIS PIECE OF GARBAGE WILL BE CAUGHT AND YES, PEOPLE PLEASE KEEP YOUR CATS INSIDE IF YOU LOVE THEM

[helenhudson]

>>''It appears an animal is doing this,'' Lauderhill police spokesman Rick Rocco told miamiherald.com

Well, that's an understatement. The question is whether or not it's a human animal or a four-legged type.

Val and Crimson: What part of the connection between the sadistic killing of animals and possibly graduating to human victims don't you get?

Agree that cats should be kept indoors for their own safety against even the ravages of nature including feral cats.

El Coyote, lemme send you about a million sweetgum balls to put down in your flower beds; they're great deterrents to cats scratching in the soil.

[ICORP Investigations, Inc.]

Do they have any suspects, leads to this case? Please update with any new news of this case.

[ronesha]

I think that it is wrong for anyone to kill any living organism unless they are in danger. I am not even cat person i am scared to death of cats and even though that I would still not ever hurt any living thing.

[helenhudson]

"Authorities: Teen arrested in Fla. cat mutilations..."

http://blogs.discovery.com/criminal_report/2009/06/tyler-hayes-weinman.html

[what is wrong with humanity]

Just because animals don't seem important you, does not mean that they do not mean something to someone else. If I killed someone you loved because I did not understand or care how much it meant you, it would hurt you. To some people their pets are like members of their family. Do not disregard what means something to someone else because you think that it is stupid. You would not like someone else to make that same call about your life.

[NYC Private Investigator]

It's awful. I can't imagine how other people can do such a horrible thing to these innocent creatures. It's best to keep your pets inside your home, where they will be safer.