Pet-Abuse.Com - Animal Abuse Case Details: Three cats killed, tortured with blow torch

Three cats killed, tortured with blow torch
Tampa, FL (US)

Incident Date: Tuesday, Nov 28, 2006
County: Hillsborough
Local Map: available
Disposition: Alleged
Charges: Felony CTA

Alleged: Richard Aaron Wyatt

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

Case ID: 10203

Classification: Burning - Fire or Fireworks

Animal: cat

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Animal was offleash or loose

Abuse was retaliation against animal's bad behavior

Tampa Police have arrested a 30-year-old man accused of killing neighborhood cats using a propane torch. The investigation is still continuing, but Richard A. Wyatt is in jail for Animal Cruelty.

Investigators say Wyatt admitted he killed the cats at his home at 8410 Orangeview Avenue N.

Police say Wyatt is also a suspected of shooting a pellet gun at their helicopter during a flyover last week on an unrelated call.

Jail records list Wyatt's occupation as a sales representative for Florida Cooling Supply in Tampa.

The man answering the phone at the business refused to comment on Wyatt's employment status or arrest.

Wyatt is being held in the Hillsborough County jail on three counts of Animal Cruelty. His bond is set at $6,000.

Police say Wyatt told them he was trying to rid the neighborhood of cats and wanted the animals to stay out of his yard.

Case Updates

Police have recovered three dead cats on scene that appear to have been burned to death with a propane torch, according to Tampa Police spokesperson Larry McKinnon in a statement.

Investigators say neighbors heard cats yelping late last night. Hillsborough County Animal Services says the cats had been trapped, doused with gasoline, burned with a blow torch, and drowned in large garbage cans.

Officers have placed Richard Wyatt, 30, under arrest at his home, 8410 Orangeview Ave North.

"This is direct, deliberate torture," said Ofc. Greg Hattle.

Hattle says Wyatt is charged with at least three counts of felony animal abuse.

A neighbor who lives across the street from Wyatt and identified herself only as "Nicole," said her 8-month-old Siamese mix Skeeter is one of the dead cats.

"This was an ongoing problem that escalated,� said the tearful 23-year-old. "He would shoot animals."

A Tampa Police report says Animal control will conduct necropsies, which are the animals equivalent of an autopsy. Evidence of torture could lead to more charges.

Wyatt was upset that neighbor's cats were on his property, according to a Tampa Police incident log.

Source: TBO - Nov 28, 2006
Update posted on Nov 28, 2006 - 6:29PM

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References

	Tampa Bay 10 - Nov 28, 2006
	Miami Herald - Nov 29, 2006
	News4Jax - Nov 29, 2006
	Sun Sentinel

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Three cats killed, tortured with blow torchTampa, FL (US)

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Three cats killed, tortured with blow torch
Tampa, FL (US)