Cat beaten to death, another stuffed in freezer
Webster, MA (US)

Incident Date: Saturday, Oct 22, 2005
County: Worcester

Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Joseph M. McDonald

A Southbridge man indicted on charges of killing one cat and stuffing another in a freezer pleaded not guilty at his arraignment yesterday in Worcester Superior Court.

Joseph M. McDonald, 20, of 127 Pleasant St., Southbridge, was visiting acquaintances Oct. 22 at an apartment at 31 Joyce St. in Webster when he allegedly followed one of his host's cats into the bathroom. Martha Heaton, who lives in the apartment, told police she then heard "banging against the shower wall."

When Mr. McDonald emerged from the bathroom, he allegedly stated that he was going to "mess with the little one," according to a police report on file in Dudley District Court, where Mr. McDonald was arraigned in November.

Some time later, one of Ms. Heaton's guests found the first cat dead, bloody and wrapped in a towel, in the shower stall in the bathroom. Before leaving to go to his girlfriend's apartment upstairs, Mr. McDonald reportedly admitted putting the smaller cat in the freezer. He went to the freezer in the kitchen and removed the cat, which was alive, but "obviously scared and cold," according to the police account.

Charged with killing, maiming or poisoning a domestic animal and cruelty to an animal, Mr. McDonald was ordered held on $5,000 cash bail at his district court arraignment. Mr. McDonald sought a bail reduction and the bail was reduced to $500 cash in Worcester Superior Court, according to Assistant District Attorney Richard L. Greco.

A Worcester County grand jury handed up indictments against Mr. McDonald March 14, transferring his case to Worcester Superior Court. Mr. McDonald was arraigned April 25 in the Worcester court.

The report noted: "During questioning McDonald denied killing the cat but made comment referencing how the cat died such as banging the cat's head 13 times against the wall and wrapping its head in a towel so it could not breathe."

The report stated Mr. McDonald agreed to a breath test, which showed a .10 percent blood alcohol level.

References

•  - June 6, 2006

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