Squirrel dismembered, left in neighbor's yard Venice, FL (US) Incident Date: Wednesday, Feb 2, 2005 County: Sarasota Local Map: available Disposition: Alleged Alleged: » Corey M. Schafer » Kyle C. Runyon

Case ID: 3730 Classification: Mutilation/Torture Animal: squirrel View more cases in FL (US) Login to Watch this Case

Two teens face felony animal cruelty charges for allegedly dismembering a squirrel and leaving its remains in a neighbor's yard. Corey M. Schafer, 18, of Siesta Drive, Venice, and Kyle C. Runyon, 18, of Buckett Circle, Port Charlotte, were arrested Feb 2 on charges of cruelty to animals resulting in death.

Schafer, a Lemon Bay High School student, and Runyon were booked into the South Sarasota County Jail on $1,000 bond.

According to a Sarasota County Sheriff's Office arrest report:

A resident on the 3000 block of Sunset Beach Drive in Venice found the head of a squirrel on her backyard hammock. On the ground nearby was the rest of the squirrel, which was missing a leg and had a blue string with a stick tied to its other leg.

The woman told deputies the neighbors who lived behind her might know something because she had seen them shooting pellet guns in their back yard.

Deputies went to Schafer's home, where Schafer and Runyon were standing outside. When asked if they knew anything about a dead squirrel, Schafer said, "Umm, no, well, yes."

Schafer said he, Runyon and an unidentified other person had cut off the squirrel's head with a knife. He also said there "were probably (pellets) inside the squirrel."

He said he was also there when the squirrel was tied with string and pinned to the ground with a stick. Schafer said he didn't put the squirrel in his neighbor's back yard and that he "had no idea how it got there."

The squirrel was taken to a local veterinarian to determine if any additional injuries had been inflicted.

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References

Sun Herald - Feb 3, 2005

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