Case Details

Cat decapitated with axe, head found under bed Petersburg, IN (US) Incident Date: Thursday, Jan 11, 2007 County: Pike Local Map: available Charges: Felony CTA Disposition: Convicted Defendant/Suspect: Jacob K. Robling Case Updates: 7 update(s) available

Case ID: 10516 Classification: Mutilation/Torture Animal: cat View more cases in IN (US) Drugs or alcohol involved Login to Watch this Case

A Petersburg, Ind., man faces felony charges after the severed head of his family's pet cat, Clarabelle, was found in a tub under his bed.

Jacob K. Robling, 20, 1209 E. Walnut St., is charged with Class D felony animal cruelty and misdemeanor minor consuming alcohol.

Petersburg Police Cpl. Scott Nelson said Robling's mother reported she found the head of the orange-colored cat in a tub under Robling's bed.

Robling's stepfather said in an interview on Jan 11, 2007 that he and his wife never intended for Robling to end up in jail when they called police to report they'd found Clarabelle's remains.

Gene Willis said he just wanted police to take their son to a hospital. Willis explained Robling has previously received treatment for paranoid schizophrenia from a medical center in Vincennes, Ind.

Willis said Robling's symptoms have worsened in the past five years, since his brother died in a train accident.

Robling's family became suspicious after he repeatedly asked that no one go into his room.

"He kept stressing that fact, so he was crying out for help," Willis said, adding he believes the cat died in the family garage, but he is not sure how or when.

Willis said he and his wife eventually went into Robling's bedroom, where they found Clarabelle's severed head.

Pike County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Beth Hatfield said Robling's minor consuming alcohol charge is because Robling tested positive for having alcohol in his system when he was arrested.

In just her second week as chief deputy prosecutor in Pike County, Hatfield said charges like Robling's are uncommon.

"Personally this is my first, but I don't think we get a lot of animal cruelty charges - and nothing like this," she said.

Hatfield said because the case is new and Robling was just appointed a public defender, she was unaware of Robling's parents desire to get him in a treatment facility for mental health. She said the topic will be discussed with Robling's attorney.

"We're poor people, but we'd like to get him out of jail and into a hospital," Willis said. "He's not a bad kid, his medicine just doesn't work for him, and he does things he shouldn't do. He has no control over it."

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References

Courier Press - Jan 12, 2007

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