Attorneys/Judges
| Defense(s): | Susan Morris | | Judge(s): | Dineen Riviezzo |
CONVICTED: Was justice served?
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Case #15982 Rating: 2.3 out of 5
Cat beaten to death with umbrella, DNA linked
Brooklyn, NY (US)Incident Date: Monday, Oct 12, 2009
County: Kings
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: Lordtyshon Garrett
Case Updates: 2 update(s) available
Authorities are using DNA evidence to pursue a man who is accused of killing his mother-in-law's cat.
Police say Lordtyshon Garrett, 31, terrorized the 9-pound cat by poking and beating her with an umbrella. Animal experts say 4-year-old Madea suffered injuries comparable to that of being hit by a car or falling from a high-rise building.
The incident occurred at the Brooklyn home of Garrett's mother-in-law, Deborah Bender, on Oct. 12.
In an attempt to fight back, Madea reportedly bit and scratched the plastic umbrella. The ASPCA found the cat's DNA on the umbrella and also found some of Garrett's DNA at the crime scene.
Authorities charge before the beat down, Garret initially lured the cat into the bathroom using food, closed the door and turned on the shower. Bender said Madea emerged drenched a short time later and had difficulty breathing.
Bender said Garrett lost control when she told him to find a job and move out which may have prompted the attack. She said he showed little remorse after the slaying.
The cat was taken to the veterinarian's office the next day and put down because of the extent of the injuries.
ASPCA officers arrested Garrett Thursday. Garrett was charged with felony animal cruelty, which carries a maximum two-prison term. He was arraigned in Brooklyn criminal court Friday and was being held in lieu of $3,500 bail.
Case UpdatesA Brooklyn man who beat his mother-in-law's cat with an umbrella, causing a collapsed lung and the cat's eventual euthanasia, was caged for six months on animal cruelty charges this afternoon.
Lordtyshon Garrett was convicted in March of the October 2009 clubbing of the cat Madea in Bushwick.
Prosecutors asked for a two-year sentence, but Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Dineen Riviezzo, noting that Garrett never intended to kill the cat, showed Garrett some mercy.
But, she said, given "the seriousness of this crime and [Garrett's] prior criminal history … some jail time is appropriate."
She also gave him five years probation, ordered him to undergo testing and counseling for drugs and alcohol and directed him to perform 20 days of community service.
Garrett will have to make restitution to his mother-in-law for Madea's medical expenses and the cost of putting the cat down.
He told Riviezzo that he had no beef with his mother-in-law and that the entire episode was a "huge misunderstanding."
"Nobody got to the bottom of it," Garrett said.
Garrett's wife Debra wrote to Riviezzo, asking that Garrett remain free to help care for their children and calling him a "great man, husband and father."
But Riviezzo put him away and denied a request from defense attorney Susan Morris for two weeks of freedom to get his affairs in order.
"I think he should step in today and complete that part of my sentence," said Riviezzo, who then addressed the newly shackled Garrett. "Good luck, sir." | Source: nypost.com - Sep 26, 2011
Update posted on Sep 26, 2011 - 4:41PM |
| DNA identified the umbrella that Lordtyshon Garrett of Manhattan used in 2009 to beat a cat, who sustained a punctured lung and ultimately died. Special Agent Deborah Ryan had saliva from the umbrella matched to the DNA of the victim, which, along with Dr. Reisman's testimony that the bite marks on the umbrella were defensive, helped clinch the case. Garrett, 33, was found guilty of aggravated cruelty, animal cruelty and criminal mischief and faces up to two years in prison. | Source: ASPCA - April 1, 2010
Update posted on Apr 1, 2011 - 9:16AM |
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