Mouse tortured, videotaped
Potsdam, NY (US)

Incident Date: Monday, Aug 1, 2011
County: Saint Lawrence

Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Elizabeth M. Laraby

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

This video of Elizabeth Laraby, 19, with a feeder mouse starts off harmless, but minutes into it, it appears that she is torturing and mutilating the small animal.

Village Police Lt. Mark Murray said, "When you view the video, it's just a disgusting act and a despicable thing to do to any animal."

Potsdam Humane Society Director Anne Smith said, "They have a nervous system like we do. They feel pain."

The video of Laraby with the mouse went viral last week on Topix. The four minute bit shows Laraby apparently putting a lighter to the feeder mouse's face and later cutting of its feet. It also appears that she is laughing during the video.

Hundreds of people have commented on it and someone informed the Potsdam P.D.

Murray said, "We located it and once we viewed the video, it was obvious it had disturbing images in it of an animal being tortured and mutilated."

Laraby is facing felony animal abuse charges.

There are three kinds of animal abuse. There is unintentional, which happens when someone is uninformed how to care for an animal. There's intentional, which is generally when a child does something under peer pressure, like throw a rock at a bird's nest, and then there's cruel intention, which is what experts say this case seems to be.

Murray said, "This was something done maliciously, intentionally, with no purpose. It's a just a disgusting, inhumane thing to do to any animal."

Smith said, "It's pretty serious stuff. It's usually a deep seeded psychological problem. This type of cruelty is typically somebody who needs to control things, so they may inflict pain on animals."

Many people in the Potsdam community and beyond are upset about the video and Potsdam Police say they do not take situations like this lightly.

Murray said, "People are very upset with this act, understandably. It's very important to let people know that we do not tolerate, endorse, or allow people to do this in any way."

Lt. Murray also says the police are keeping their eyes out for more videos like this from Laraby or others and will do what they can to make sure animals are not abused intentionally.

Laraby is being held at the St. Lawrence County Correctional Facility without bail, pending a mental health evaluation. She is also charged with third degree attempted escape after police say she removed facial piercings and attempted to use the pieces to remove her restraints.

Police say she does have a past record, but nothing related to animal abuse.

The Potsdam woman had also been charged with aggravated harassment early Friday morning after she allegedly sent a threatening email to a male.

Case Updates

References

• « NY State Animal Cruelty Map
  « More cases in Saint Lawrence County, NY

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