Cat stolen from shelter, abused
Deerfield, NY (US)

Incident Date: Tuesday, Apr 12, 2005
County: Oneida

Disposition: Convicted

Defendant/Suspect: Sebastian K. Dicesare

Case Updates: 4 update(s) available

On the afternoon of April 12, between 4 and 5 p.m., a man walked into the Stevens-Swan Humane Society on Horatio Street in the town of Deerfield. He inquired at the front desk about a calico cat and was taken to the society's cat room to see what they had to offer.

"He inquired about a specific cat," said Humane Investigator Kevin Thompson. "Which suggests he had been here before."

As it was the society's busiest time of day, the staff had other things to do and left the man in the cat room to attend to other matters, never suspecting any of their animals were in danger.

A few minutes later, the man left quickly. He was asked to stop, but he ignored the request and quickened his pace out the door, raising suspicion among workers. Executive Director Becky Lynn Warner followed the man outside and copied down his license plate number. Meanwhile some employees went to the cat room and discovered that Stephanie, a calico, was missing. The Oneida County Sheriff's Department was immediately called.

Deputy Craig Stockhauser responded to the call. By looking up the license plate, Stockhauser was able to track down the man, who is a Utica resident, and retrieve the stolen cat.

Within a few hours of the theft, Stephanie was back with staff at Steven Swan Humane Society, but she was not doing well.

"She died within minutes," Thompson said.

The cat had visible external injuries and assumed internal injuries as well.

"It appears to be a brutal beating death," Thompson described. "Her injuries suggest she was kicked repeatedly or thrown against something."

The man who stole Stephanie claimed the cat had fallen.

"There is no way, given the extent of her injuries, that she just fell," Thompson said.

The man was placed under arrest and charged with larceny for stealing the cat for which he has been issues an appearance ticket. Additional charges are pending as the investigation is ongoing, Stockhauser said.

"We're hoping for animal cruelty charges as well," Thompson said.

Because the torture and killing of Stephanie was apparently intentional, any animal cruelty charges that follow could be felonies, he said.

Upon reviewing surveillance tapes of the humane society, staff and sheriffs saw what happened. While in the cat room, the man waited for staff and other people to leave the room. He then took Stephanie from her cage, stuffed her under his coat, and left.

"Obviously this person was determined," Thompson said. "He knew right where to go and he waited patiently for his chance."

Case Updates

References

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

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