Jun 11, 2009 9:30 am US/Eastern
Serial Cat Killer May Have Struck Again In Fla.
Five More Dead Cats Were Discovered In Palmetto Bay
PALMETTO BAY, Fla. (CBS) ―
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Miami-Dade police are trying to determine if a serial cat killer has struck again after five more dead cats were found in Palmetto Bay.
CBS
Miami-Dade police are trying to determine if a serial cat killer has struck again after five more dead cats were found in Palmetto Bay.
"I went out to the newspaper and then I saw the two dead cats lying over here in the grass. It appeared that one had its throat slit from ear to ear. And the other one just looked like he had his head bashed in and had puncture wounds in the rear," said homeowner Chris Doddridge.
Doddridge said he believes the cats were killed at around 3:30 a.m., based on his neighbor.
"The lady next door said she heard the sound of cats being mauled and tortured."
Julie Henkel watched Wednesday afternoon as her front yard became a crime scene. The body of a fifth dead cat discovered just steps from the front door of her home.
"It had a cut in its back, so I called the police," said Henkel. "It doesn't look like a car hit (it)."
Police say all of the killings have occurred within 20 blocks of each other in the Palmetto Bay and neighboring Cutler Bay. The cat killer is suspected to have slaughtered more than a dozen cats, although there has seen a rash of cat deaths in the area lately. Between the killer, dogs, and cars, more than 30 cats have been killed.
Doctor Ewald Horwath, who heads the psychology department at the University of Miami, says the behavior of the killer is concerning.
"Some people who become killers of people, homicide, and some people who go onto become serial killers start out by being cruel or sadistic to animals or killing animals," said Dr. Horwath. "So it's a very worrisome pattern."
Dr. Horwath suspects the cat killer is a male and someone looking for attention.
"It's someone who is very self involved," said Dr. Horwath, "doesn't care about the effects of their acts and is very willing to do something very destructive."
"This person is obviously escalating and getting bolder and I guess he's taunting the police," said concerned homeowner Maria Nealy. "The fear amongst the community I think is where does he go next? He's obviously getting bored with just killing cats and leaving them in citizens' yards. Now he's doing it to a police officer so once that gets boring, does he move to kids, adults, or I don't know, what's the next step?"
Monday night during a community meeting with residents, police officers and local leaders, police said they have assigned 16 officers to a special task force in hopes of catching the cat killer who has been targeting the animals in Cutler Bay, Palmetto Bay and in Kendall.
Police say the best way neighbors can help is to keep their cats behind closed doors, and keep their eyes open.
The reward for information leading to the arrest of the cat killer is up to $10,000 in Miami-Dade County.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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