18-year-old arrested in Miami area cat mutilations

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

A teenager was arrested early Sunday and accused of committing a string of gruesome cat mutilation deaths that had horrified residents of his Miami area community, authorities said.

For the past month, shocked pet owners in the Palmetto Bay and Cutler Bay neighborhoods have reported finding more than two dozen cats killed and mutilated. Some of the dead cats were missing fur and appeared to have been cut with a sharp, straight instrument, police said.

Tyler Weinman, 18, was taken into custody early Sunday at a party, police said. Weinman was charged with 19 counts of animal cruelty, 19 counts of improperly disposing of an animal body and four counts of burglary.

Police put the home of one of Weinman's parents under surveillance several weeks ago after receiving tips from community members, said Miami-Dade Police Department Maj. Julie Miller.

"This terrible time has drawn us together as a community, further emphasizing the importance of knowing our neighbors, communicating with each other, and always staying vigilant to suspicious activities whenever or wherever they may occur in our village," said Palmetto Bay Mayor Eugene Flinn.

Weinman was being questioned by police Sunday. It wasn't clear if he had an attorney. Messages left at phone numbers for his parents were not immediately returned.

In all, the deaths of more than 30 cats were under investigation, but Miller said some of those cats were likely killed by dogs. She said additional arrests might be forthcoming, but she declined to name other suspects.

"I sincerely hope that with his arrest, the residents will feel relieved and their cats will be safe once again," said State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle. "It is expected that the vicious crimes that have plagued these communities will not be repeated."

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In this Sunday, June 14, 2009 police mug photo released by the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office, Tyler Weinman, 18, is shown after his arrest in connection with a series of cat killings and mutilations in his Miami-area community. Horrified owners have been finding their cats killed and mutilated for the past month in Palmetto Bay and another nearby community. Weinman is charged with 19 counts of animal cruelty, 19 counts of improperly disposing of an animal body and four counts of burglary. (AP Photo/Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office)

Edited June 14, 2009 by charles!

[Mark&Steph 0]

So they finally caught him. Good. Little jerk.

[scandal 951]

Holy ####### - wait till Mags gets her hands on this guy. It'll be mutilation time on his sorry a$$.

Seriously - this kid needs to be locked up. Pathologies such as this are often a stepping stone on the way to "graduating" to acting out in similar fashion against people - serial rapists, serial killers, etc. Very disturbed $hit.

[MrsCat 6]

those poor kitties.

[Joe_&_Nadiya 1]

Talk about not being a cat person....

[spookyturtle 9,465]

Maybe he can be someones girlfriend in jail for a few days. He looks like a pansy.

[Mags 112]

I'd be happy to skin the little fcuker and improperly dispose of his body.

[scandal 951]

I'd be happy to skin the little fcuker and improperly dispose of his body.

Quite 'proper' of you.

[TimandJoyce 1]

awww those poor cats! And the owners!! I'd be so upset to find out someone did that to my pet

[Mags 112]

I'd be happy to skin the little fcuker and improperly dispose of his body.

Quite 'proper' of you.

Thankyou. I have standards.

[Scott & Lai 12]

I'd be happy to skin the little fcuker and improperly dispose of his body.

Quite 'proper' of you.

Thankyou. I have standards.

I'd suggest you start by slicing that smug expression off the creature's face

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

I'd be happy to skin the little fcuker and improperly dispose of his body.

Quite 'proper' of you.

Thankyou. I have standards.

i have a belt sander and hand held planer i'll be happy to let you use.

[Niels Bohr 72]

I hate cats! But, doesn't give me a reason to mutilate them. This kid is a nutjob.

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

I hate cats! But, doesn't give me a reason to mutilate them. This kid is a nutjob.

you need to teach him the proper way to cook steak for the unexpected 4 legged houseguest.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

I hate cats! But, doesn't give me a reason to mutilate them. This kid is a nutjob.

And a pu$$y too.