Keychain made from cat's paws found
Hattiesburg, MS (US)Incident Date: Thursday, Sep 23, 2004
County: Forrest
Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 1 files available
Alleged: Rick Ezell
An estranged Lamar County couple fighting about a key chain made from a severed cat's paw turned themselves over to Lamar County authorities separately this week to face charges they filed against each other regarding the incident.
Hattiesburg massage therapist Sarah Palmer, 25, turned herself in Thursday to Lamar County officials on one felony charge of burglary filed by her ex-fiance, Rick Ezell, 42, a Jackson car salesman, said Lamar County Sheriff's Investigator Ted Munn. She later posted a $10,000 bond and was released.
The affidavit sworn against her by Ezell lists gold chains, $400 and a picture as missing from Ezell's home, Munn said.
Palmer, who said she found the cat's paw in Ezell's bedroom, had lived with him and said she let herself into the house with her key after Ezell invited her back to the Pinewood Drive house to get Toby, her 3-year-old Persian.
"(Having) the key doesn't mean that you can't break in," Munn said.
Palmer's felony charge will go before the Lamar County Grand Jury but that won't convene until early next year, Munn said.
In the wake of their breakup a month ago, Palmer alleged Ezell threatened to cut off the cat's feet and make key chains from them. Ezell countered by saying he had given the cat away and he did not harm the animal.
At Palmer's request, DNA samples were collected Tuesday from Toby's parents for testing to determine if the cat's paw was actually Palmer's cat.
Meanwhile, Ezell surrendered to Lamar County authorities on Wednesday on one misdemeanor animal cruelty charge and was released, Munn said.
Ezell will have a hearing on his charge before Lamar County Justice Court Judge Larry McPhail, but that date is pending.
But Ezell, who was charged in March by Hattiesburg police with one count of domestic violence involving Palmer, also faces a misdemeanor stalking charge filed by Palmer in the city.
Ezell's attorney, Jim Dukes Jr., wanted to read the city and county affidavits against Ezell before commenting on the incident. He expects to get the documents either today or Monday. References
« More cases in Forrest County, MS
|
