Florida Police Arrest Tyler Hayes Weinman in Kitty Serial Killer Case
June 15, 2009
An 18-year-old boy from Palmetto Bay, Fla., has been arrested in a recent series of cat mutilations and killings that have occurred in the South Florida communities of Cutler Bay and Palmetto Bay.
"I am pleased to announce the arrest of Tyler Hayes Weinman who we believe, based on a totality of circumstances, is responsible for the gruesome serial cat mutilations that have been occurring in the southern portion of Miami-Dade County," Miami-Dade police spokesperson Julie Miller said during at a press conference yesterday.
According to Miller, Weinman was arrested Sunday, after "investigative leads" and "critical intelligence" linked him to 19 cat killings. Miller did not elaborate on what evidence her department has against Weinman; however she did say that the investigation is ongoing and that additional arrests might be forthcoming.
Weinman has been charged with 19 felony counts of animal cruelty, 19 misdemeanor counts of improperly disposing of an animal body and four felony counts of burglary related to the cat deaths.
"This is so important to our community," Miller said of the arrest. "So many lives have been affected - children, adults, citizens who didn't even have animals affected."
According to miamiherald.com, Weinman's parents divorced in 2006 and he divides his time between their residences. His father is a dentist in Palmetto Bay and his mother is a life coach in Cutler Bay. Weinman recently graduated from Miami Palmetto Senior High and has been spending his summer doing odd jobs.
Weinman is reportedly a member of the Facebook.com group named "Catch the Cat Killer!" It remains unclear if he was an active participant in the group; however earlier today the group's owner, Brittany Barton, sent out a message to all members of the group. The message reads in part:
"To all of you who do not know me, my name is Brittany Barton. I am a resident of Palmetto Bay and one of my cats was a victim of the killings. I created the Facebook group "Catch the Cat Killer!" solely for other animal lovers like myself, who wanted the person responsible for these sick acts of cruelty brought to justice. Even though one of my cats was killed, I still have not seen evidence to show that this particular kid is the culprit (although I will admit, his smirk in the booking photos makes him look 100% more arrogant and guilty). For that reason I am STILL keeping my cats indoors. Until the police finally decide to release the details of the evidence against the suspected cat killer, I advise you all to do the same with your pets."
The message went on to say that Barton did not approve of recent posts to the group that bashed Weinman's family and convicted him of the crimes before he is proven guilty in a court of law.
"I do not have the time to delete every insensitive person or comment on the Group page, so for that reason I am deleting the Group entirely," Barton wrote.
While Barton's group may be coming to an end, two other groups on Facebook - "Bring Tyler Weinman to Justice" and "Justice for Tyler" - are causing a stir on the Internet, albeit for two entirely different reasons.
The mission statement for "Bring Tyler Weinman to Justice" reads in part:
"A group to discuss and vent about this sicko and what he did to those animals. Sure, innocent until proven guilty, but no smoke without fire, right? The police had been watching him for 2 weeks; they wouldn't have made a move had they not seen anything to solidify their suspicions."
Whereas the description of "Justice for Tyler" reads in part:
"In America everyone is innocent until proven guilty and that includes Tyler Weinman. Too many biased and non factual opinions are being published about Tyler ... There has been no factual evidence found against [him] just that he happens to live in the area like lots of other people."
Weinman's attorney, David W. Macey, also claims his client is innocent.
"Tyler welcomes his day in court, so that he will be completely vindicated," Macey said in an email to cbs4.com.
Regardless of Weinman's guilt, Cutler Bay Mayor Paul Vrooman has issued a warning to others who might consider committing similar acts.
"I read a blog post this morning from one misguided poster who said he actually supported these acts because cats were a nuisance to him," Vrooman said. "To anyone who shares that opinion let me make this clear that cruelty is inhuman no matter what form it takes. The cruelty of these crimes was horrific for the animal victims but there were many human victims as well. Let's not forget the children and families who found their pets mutilated, these awful wounds inflicted a human toll."
Since May 11, at least two dozen domestic cats have been found dead in the Palmetto Bay and Cutler Bay areas. Many of the feline victims were gutted and skinned, while others were found drained of blood and missing limbs.
Tyler Weinman is being held in the Miami-Dade County Jail on a $249.000 bond. According to jail officials, he is under suicide watch. If convicted, Weinman faces a minimum mandatory fine of $5,000 and six months in prison on each felony count.
Related Link:
Florida Police Seek Kitty Serial Killer
Photo Credits: Tyler Hayes Weinman: Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office; Alicia Glatzer: AP Photo/J Pat Carter
Please note: Persons appearing in mug shots may not have not been convicted of the charges for which they are accused and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission from Discovery Communications. All quotes must include a link back.
Comments
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to call him a boy or kid is an injustice, he is a sick subhuman physcopathical serial killer. I hope he is sent to prison for the rest of his life, and while he is there he is tortured everyday.The police need to look into his past, he may have already killed a person. If he hasn't yet, it is just because he hasn't had the chance. I hope they will turn this Jeffrey Dauhmer lose on us.
Posted by: Beverly | June 15, 2009 at 05:32 PM
I say hang him!
Posted by: hangover cure | June 15, 2009 at 07:29 PM
He is a serial killer in the making. Nearly all serial killers started of by killing helpless animals. If it were up to me I would do to him exactly what he did to the cats. Of course I'll bet a million dollars his parts are saying "he's realy a good kid and he's very sorry". Well that's just Bull!
Posted by: bob w | June 15, 2009 at 07:33 PM
hope he likes prison. With that face, he will certainly be the new @#$%^!
Posted by: Rory | June 15, 2009 at 09:11 PM
Thanks for the update.
Jane Velez-Mitchell/CNN reported that Weinman must also complete psychological evaluation in addition to posting the bond amount in order to be released.
Posted by: helenhudson | June 15, 2009 at 10:47 PM
This "kid" deserves a life sentence. He is one sick, sick, sick pervert! I hope that in prison he gets a little pain dished out to him. If this kid gets out of prison, it will not be long before he tortures and kills a human being. Such people just need to be humanely "put down."
Posted by: Sue | June 15, 2009 at 10:59 PM
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=91649947619#/group.php?gid=91649947619
Posted by: Scott Helman | June 15, 2009 at 11:41 PM
Please support Tyler! Stand with us to join us to demand justice for Tyler.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=91649947619
Posted by: Maria | June 15, 2009 at 11:43 PM
I SAY, SINCE THIS IS MIAMI AND THE DEXTER SHOWTIME SERIES IS SHOT THERE, LET'S JUST LET DEXTER MUTILATE HIM AND ADD HIM TO HIS COLLECTION OF SERIAL KILLERS. THERE IS NO HELP AVAILABLE FOR THIS PSYCHOPATH OTHER THAN TO LOCK HIM AWAY BEFORE HE KILLS AGAIN. I ALSO READ SOMEWHERE THAT WEIMAN'S MOTHER'S BOYFRIEND STATED THAT HE IS SUCH A NICE YOUNG MAN WHO WOULD NEVER COMITT SUCH CRIMES. I SAY THAT THIS MAN SHOULD READ THE DSMV-IV AXIS 1 MANUAL OF PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS AND LOOK AT THE SYMPTOMS OF ANTI-SOCIAL PERSONALITY DISORDER. I CAN GUARANTEE THAT THIS YOUNG MAN EXHIBITS MANY OF THESE. JUST LOOK AT TED BUNDY, HOW CALCULATING AND CUNNING HE WAS. HE WAS SUCH A CHARMER BUT HE WAS ALSO A SERIAL KILLER.
Posted by: DEE | June 16, 2009 at 12:57 AM
His mother is a "life coach", well done there! He will kill people if released, he's an adult and you can't change these people when they're adults.
Posted by: Burr | June 16, 2009 at 03:04 AM
I knew it would be a couple of teens but honestly, justice should be brought! and this is stupid there is no evidence of him killing anything maybe he had a crappy past, so did i doesn't make a me a nut! Truly i believe they need to give him a break and truly find evidence of him having to do with killing of "cats" it can be just one kid it has to be a group of kids. If it is him, he will break and rat other kids into this
Posted by: jcash | June 16, 2009 at 03:12 AM
To the gallows!
Posted by: Subgenius88 | June 16, 2009 at 04:45 AM
Tyler can't be the killer. He is super nice and really fun to be with. He does not work in weird jobs during the summer because he worked at a camp that is not even close to weird.
I do love cats but i dont think Tyler is the killer.
Posted by: Nicole | June 16, 2009 at 07:48 PM
YOU PEOPLE HAVE ANGEER-MANAGEMENT ISSUES (SHOULDN'T OWN PETS). THE KID IS A FALL GUY FOR THE COPS WHO KNOW THIS IS ALIEN-INSPIRED CAT MUTILATION (I TOLD THEM). INVESTIGATE "WORLDVIEW +cat mutilations" AND "UNRESOLVED SERIAL CAT MUTILATIONS PANDEMICS" AND "HIGH-STRANGENESS FLORIDA CAT MUTILATIONS".
Look in the Worldview link .. Destin FLA has re-occurring spates ... at one time: 60 cats and dogs .. deemed too weird for public consumption .. online references trashed. Contact person at Panhandle Animal Shelter only too well aware of 'situation'.
I deserve all the reward monies for the cut-in-half cat scenarios as I was the first to forward non-human, non-animal explanation.
Posted by: Friend of Nature | June 16, 2009 at 10:00 PM
Studies of shown serial animal killers graduate to become serial human killers. This one must be watched closely. If I were a neighbor of his I would be very afraid.
Posted by: Willard | June 17, 2009 at 12:35 PM
HE IS WORTHLESS! WE DONT NEED TRASH LIKE THIS AROUND!
Posted by: MANDI | June 17, 2009 at 01:30 PM
What is troubeling is that the Police obviously do not have any solid evidence this kid did these henious acts. Their case seems to be purely based on some "courious" postings he did on his on MySpace page as well as the "Catch the Cat Killer" facebook page. They watched him for two weeks because they had nothing solid on him. Finally they succume to the community pressure and arrest the kid. Also, he clearly does not fit the profile of a sick sociopath. Finally, has there been any necropsis done on any or all of the 19 Cat's to rule out wild animals or dogs?
Posted by: James C. | June 17, 2009 at 01:55 PM
LOL!!! They let him go!?!?!? The judge is a moron.
Posted by: Superdynamite | June 18, 2009 at 07:28 PM
Quote: Also, he clearly does not fit the profile of a sick sociopath. Unquote
...he clearly doesn't fit...
Upon what evidence to you make this claim?
Posted by: hazeleyes | June 19, 2009 at 08:33 AM
Quote: Tyler can't be the killer. He is super nice and really fun to be with. He does not work in weird jobs during the summer because he worked at a camp that is not even close to weird.
I do love cats but i dont think Tyler is the killer. Unquote
You need to do some reading about sociopaths: they are magicians at making themselves seem 'normal' and 'nice'. That's how they lure unwary and uninformed folks like you.
Posted by: hazeleyes | June 19, 2009 at 08:35 AM
Quote: Since May 11, at least two dozen domestic cats have been found dead in the Palmetto Bay and Cutler Bay areas. Unquote
Sad but true, if these cats had not been outside where predators of all kinds could catch them, they would not be dead. People who value their cats keep them inside.
Cats do not NEED to go out. If keeping litter pan clean is a problem, don't have a cat, because toileting kitth outside not only adds to the pet-waste problem and is irresponsible but cats who go out disturb the enviornment: kill birds and small mammals.
Posted by: hazeleyes | June 19, 2009 at 08:44 AM
Tyler is not an animal killer. of the 33 cat deaths, 14 have already been positively attributed to 2 pit bulls caught the same day tyler was arrested. the dogs even had cat scratches. of the 19 other cat deaths, there is no physical evidence linking them to a human killer. tyler was being watched and tracked for over a month before being arrested and yet was never found at the scene of a killing, nor with evidence from one or having left evidence of his at any cat death scene. his car was tracked "near" only 2 of the killings. its time to drop the charges against Tyler.
Posted by: Steve | July 17, 2009 at 07:55 PM
Seems to me the Parents were too busy with other life's to get into their own young mans life. He had too much free time on his hands. This is the result of parents not showing tough love and correction. Thus... allowing a kid to do what ever and not give account to his life. I would be interested in finding out as to why he did this. Was he dabbling in the occult? Was it his cry for attention from his parents? Was he going into animal or science school and was becoming curious? I'm waiting to understand this one.
Posted by: Newsette | July 19, 2009 at 09:30 PM