Animals beheaded, left at beach
Laguna Beach, CA (US)Incident Date: Thursday, Nov 8, 2007
County: Orange
Disposition: Open
Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
A headless rooster was found on a Laguna beach Wednesday, the latest in a string of such incidents. Last week, lifeguards found decapitated goats and beheaded chickens.
A headless chicken and a headless goat wrapped in purple onion bags were found at Picnic Beach at 12:30 p.m. Nov. 8 by a passerby who alerted lifeguards. Later that afternoon, a goat and two chickens, also wrapped in bags, were found at Sleepy Hollow Beach. The goats weighed about 30 pounds each.
At 9 a.m. Nov 14, a headless rooster was found at Picnic Beach.
"We are looking at all kinds of things -- Halloween prank stuff, kids or cold, ritualistic-type activities," said Sgt. Jason Kravetz of the Laguna Beach Police Department.
He said police were unsure if the animals had washed up on the shore or were placed there.
"They are wet. That means they are close to the surf line or they are washing up," he said.
The rooster was "fairly fresh," suggesting it had not been in the water a long time, Kravetz said. "I don't know if we have some juveniles playing games or what."
Fishermen who try to attract fish with animal blood were ruled out, he said, because police determined that if that were the case, the heads would be found too.
In any case, "it's very unusual. It's something I haven't seen in my 18 years on the job," Kravetz said. If you have information on this case, please contact:
Laguna Beach Police
(949) 497-0701
Case UpdatesThe Animal Defense Council is offering a $500 reward for information leading to the conviction of the person or people responsible for beheading animals found on the shores of Laguna Beach.
"The person who committed this brutal act of animal cruelty should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and undergo psychological counseling," said Carmine Cardamone, director of the Animal Defense Council, a Tucson-based nonprofit organization that seeks to end cruelty to animals.
Laguna Beach lifeguards found another headless bird on a city beach Thursday, the seventh beheaded animal discovered since last week.
The bird, either a dove or pigeon, was found at the north end of Main Beach, said Laguna Beach Police Sgt. Jason Kravetz. Two goats, three chickens and a rooster also have been found since Nov. 8.
"It appears to be related to the other ones," Kravetz said. "It was a headless animal and we've had a spate over seven days."
Kravetz said police were looking at groups that do animal sacrifices, including followers of Santeria, an Afro-Cuba spiritual tradition whose rituals can involve the sacrifice of animals. In addition, police are considering who might want to get attention through the killings.
A headless chicken and a headless goat wrapped in purple onion bags were found at Picnic Beach on Nov. 8 by a passerby who alerted lifeguards. Later that afternoon, a goat and two chickens, also wrapped in bags, were found at Sleepy Hollow Beach. The goats weighed about 30 pounds each.
On Wednesday morning, a decapitated rooster was found at Picnic Beach. Laguna Beach police were unsure if the animals washed ashore or were placed on the beach. Police have asked anyone with information about the case to call (949) 497-0701. | Source: LA Times - Nov 16, 2007
Update posted on Nov 16, 2007 - 4:49AM |
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