Breaking the bones of two cats, burning them with cigarette Clinton, MI (US) Incident Date: Monday, Mar 15, 2004 County: Lenawee Local Map: available Disposition: Alleged Alleged: Edward Baker

Case ID: 2095 Classification: Mutilation/Torture Animal: cat View more cases in MI (US) Login to Watch this Case

A Clinton Township man has been released on bond after he was charged with animal cruelty for allegedly breaking the bones of two cats and burning them with a cigarette.

Edward Baker, 19, told police he never learned to hate cats so much as he did when he lived with his girlfriend's family.

"I caught him in the laundry room tormenting my cat," said Kim Steis, who discovered the abuse of her cats in February. Crystal, a 10-year-old orange tabby cat, had a bloody mouth and was on her back 

Baker was the live-in boyfriend of Steis' 17-year-old daughter.

"He would come out of the bedroom and the cats would scatter," said Steis.

Crystal's bottom jaw was reconstructed. Her upper jaw was cracked and she has bruised eyes and a broken sternum.

Her 2-year-old daughter, Haley, walks with a limp. She has a pin in her leg and her paw pads were burned.

Steis said she has spent $1,800 in veterinarian bills, but that the cats are finally healing.

Baker was arraigned Monday in Clinton Township District Court and was released after posting a $15,000 bond. He'll be back in court later this month, Local 4 reported. He has been ordered to stay away from the cats, but Steis said he is still dating her daughter, Local 4 reported.

If Baker is found guilty of the felony charges for animal cruelty, he could be imprisoned for four years.

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