Raccoons killed, one set on fire during vandalism
Fredericton, NB (CA)Incident Date: Wednesday, Nov 19, 2008
Disposition: Open
Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!
The Fredericton Police Force is pursuing positive leads in a gruesome case of animal cruelty and vandalism reported Wednesday morning, said police spokesman Const. Ralph Currie.
A Bessborough Street couple discovered a fire in a backyard barbecue about 5:30 a.m. that morning and called the fire department.
Firefighters notified police when they realized two raccoons had been slain and one was set alight on the barbecue. The second had been killed and draped over a vehicle in the family's driveway. The vehicle was spray-painted with nasty words.
Homeowner Barbara Cooper said her husband Bill Richards woke up early Wednesday morning and went to watch the news in the downstairs family room.
"He noticed this strange flickering light on the wall and found our barbecue completely engulfed in flames. He went out to investigate and there was a raccoon roasting on it," Cooper said Friday. "Bill cut the gas to the barbecue so that it died down, but the animal was still in flames."
Cooper said she called 9-1-1 and they waited in the driveway for the fire department to arrive.
"We found another (mutilated) raccoon posed on our car so that its head was staring at us when we went out," she said.
"It was on the front fender (and) facing (toward) our door, so that when we would go outside we would find it - with its eyes popped out. It was very gruesome."
Their vehicle was spray-painted.
"I'm not going to talk about the words on it. It was very disturbing," Cooper said.
"When the fire department realized that there were things of this nature, they called the police."
Cooper said they don't believe the incident was directed at them personally.
"We have no idea. We have no enemies. It was just unbelievable. You've got vandalism to property. You've got mutilation of animals. You've got some very, very serious crimes here," Cooper said.
Given the bizarre nature of the incident, local media have been seeking details from the family, but Cooper said they made the choice not to talk about the incident until a police news release was issued. That happened late Thursday.
"With what's been in the media this (Friday) morning, with the spin being put on that the police asked us not to speak ... that is not the case," Cooper said.
"I do want to stress that in consultation with the police, we knew that they were going to issue a media release, and I don't want to leave you with the impression that they asked us not to speak.
"That is not the truth at all. We made a choice. We made a choice to wait until they had done their media release, and actually found it quite disturbing this morning to wake up and hear the words that the police advised us not to speak," Cooper said.
"It's just not accurate, and I feel it's very unfair for the detective. I have the utmost of praise for Det. (Sean) Clark who is handling this case. He is taking it very seriously and they are trying to get to the bottom of this."
Currie said police can't comment or give further details on the investigation at this early and delicate stage of the investigation, but progress in the case is being made.
"Investigators are following up on some positive leads and possibly looking at some persons of interest," Currie said.
The Fredericton Police Force is asking for public assistance in its investigation.
Anyone with information should call Clark at 460-2409 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. If you have information on this case, please contact:
Crime Stoppers
800-222-8477
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