One month old kitten burned to death
Houston, TX (US)Incident Date: Friday, Oct 31, 2003
County: Harris
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: James Edward Land
A 21-year-old man who police said entertained his friends at a southeast Houston apartment complex by torturing and burning a month-old kitten to death earlier this month was apprehended in December 2003.
A witness told police that James Edward Land set the kitten on fire on Nov. 14, 2003, at the Royal Palms Apartments, 5601 Royal Palms, officers said. The witness told police that Land put the kitten into a pillowcase and threw it while he and his friends laughed. Land then doused the kitten with lighter fluid and set it on fire, the witness said.
After police were called, the witness said, Land put the kitten in a garbage bag and placed it in a trash bin at the complex.
The kitten was still alive, said Sgt. Doug Osterberg of the Houston Police Department's Major Offenders Division. Osterberg and representatives of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals went to the complex and found the kitten struggling in the trash bin. The kitten later died.
"This is pretty sad," Osterberg said. "The witness was horrified." Land was identified by the witness and charged, but police were unable to find him to arrest him, when he was again spotted at the Royal Palms Apartments. Osterberg said Land ran when he saw police but was caught after a five-block foot chase.
Land is charged with felony animal cruelty, evading arrest and possession of marijuana. References« TX State Animal Cruelty Map
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