Authorities are investigating a case of animal cruelty in Tampa.

Neighbors told investigators they heard cats yelping late last night. Hillsborough County Animal Services says the cats had been trapped, doused with gasoline, burned with a blow torch, and then drowned in large garbage cans.

“Police have recovered three dead cats on scene that appear to have been burned to
death with a propane torch,” said Tampa Police spokesperson Larry McKinnon in a statement.

Send us your comments.

I also hope they throw away the key on this sick person who could torture and kill these harmless creatures.  For the owners of the cats I am very sorry for your loss and pain.  For every cat owner… Please know that any cat that is left to roam about is in danger of being hurt - cars, dogs, other cats and a number of other “hazards” can all harm your beloved pet.  PLEASE honor and love your cat and don’t let it roam free outside.

West Central Florida you cease to amaze me, I have lived hear for 11 years, since then the news has included animal torture, raping children , burying children alive, home invasions, lap dances, hurricane damage, insurance crisis , homestead exemptions, hanging chads and sodomy with anything anywhere.

This paradise is going in the crapper.

It is seems that very little if anything can be done to save it.

Please find some way to punish these people that torture, mame or kill animals.  Are they like this because they were never loved as a child or given the chance to love anything in their life.  I just don’t understand how anyone could look a living creature in the eye that has done nothing wrong and kill it.  (yeah I don’t get the hunting thing either) So what if the cat jumped on his car or whatever reason he thinks it gives him the right to do what he did.  He should be locked up and labeled an animal abuser/killer just like a child molesters and preditors.  God knows what he has done in the past to animals, this isn’t the first time he has done something like this.  By the way his house is just South of Bush Blvd and 2 blocks to the east. For Nicole or the others that lost a cat to this creep...I have recently rescued 2 kittens one of which is up to date on shots and has been fixed already and I will gladly give them to any of you.  I have 3 others that I also rescued but they have long hair and the 2 new ones have short hair and I am terrible allergic to them.  I could use a good safe home for them

House Arrest? Could we be so lucky that lightning would strike his house tonight & this sick monster be trapped in it & burned alive, hopefully very slowly???
The laws must be changed to protect these innocent victims

How terrible. They should burn this man alive and lock him up while he is burning. Those poor cats. They should make tougher laws because like children, anilmals cannot defend themselves. We as human beings should be protecting children and animals, not harming them and torturing them.

Unless and until animals are respected and viewed as more than disposable, the cycle of abuse against them will continue to escalate. Each of us have a responsibility to protect them.. we are their caretakers. They cannot protect themselves against the cruel acts of man.  And if you haven’t taken the time to make your voices heard by writing to your local government to urge them to strengthen the punishment for animal abuse, then the cycle of violence will continue.  We must *all* take a stand for these animals. 

Don’t kid yourself into thinking it ends with an animal.. it doesn’t.  A defenseless animal is typically where the abuser starts the abuse.  Next will be your children, your sister, your mother. 

My heart goes out to those who have lost their pets at the hands of this disgusting individual.  I can only hope he is dealt at the end of his days with the same respect he gave to these animals.

For more on animal abuse in your city.. log on to http://www.PetAbuse.com.  Stay informed and involved..  take a stand.

That man is not human.  He is evil and will become a murderer of human beings one day.  He deserves no less than he gave to those poor little creatures.  Had I heard the dying screams of cats, or any other animals, coming from his home, I would have done anything to stop him.  What goes around comes around you demented SOB.

This man is sick...sick...SICK! Neighbors should watch him very carefully. I doubt that this horrific act is the only one he’s done. People who torture animals are sociopathic monsters. Torturing children and adults is the next step. ALL serial killers on record have a history of animal torture. That means Danny Rolling, Ted Bundy, the Green River Killer, and on and on. Lock this guy up in the general prison population and tell the other inmates what he did. He’ll get what he deserves!

There is no excuse rhythm or reason for this horrific act of cruelty. This person should not be walking free in society--period. Doesnt matter whether it’s an animal or human cruelty case...what SHOULD matter is the mentality or lack of ...in the decisive actions that will follow; This TYPE of person is a representative “BREED” with a cruelness which has most likely been pervasive throughout not only his life but his thought processes formed by physiology, conditioning, and pure lack of compassion (can’t rightly make a significant change in someone like this). Therefore, WE, the law-abiding, taxpaying, compassionate Humans want justice done and done right. No slap on the hand or 8 months in jail--not a good enough. Need a special judge for this one!

The voiceless of this world need extra attention, care, and protection--Seemingly, we really are backwards in this mindset. We are suppose to be the protectors of the earth--it’s high time the world starts acting like it.

To All authorities:

It is time to stop treating these monsters with any respect at all.  How many things have to happen before these people are prosecuted beyond the fullest extent.  Punishment for such things needs to be treated with the same diligence as you would such behavior towards a human.  Both of these atrocities, whether they are perpertrated against humans or animals are intimately intertwined.  Do not think that such things will not escalate beyond animals.  We are all desperately sick and tired of authorities looking the other way.  Stop one and you will stop the other.  Such people are a menace to our society.

So what is it, you people just don’t like birds? I posted a story the other day about a crane that had both of it’s legs intentionally twisted from it’s body and then left to suffer and it didn’t raise nary a peep of indignation.   (http://www.tboforums.com/index.php/forums/viewthread/157/) Maybe you just disagreed with my followup ideas. I left people alive for the most part, they just spent the biggest part of it in prison or on supervised lifetime probation. I honestly believe that a few of you may need to do a little work on your anger issues. While I agree with you that this gutter spurn should pay dearly for the pain he so willfully inflicted on these cats, I don’t believe it is a Capital crime. Locked up, isolated from society until it can be determined he no longer poses a threat to living creatures of any sort yes. Maybe he and if the ever catch the reprobate that stomped the ducklings and the genius that broke the cranes legs off they can all be pals, maybe watch each others backs while they are in the shower you know.

Sandhill cranes are now fair game in Wesley Chapel.  Some mellonhead shot one with an airpowered nail gun.  Mellonheads who torture animals should be made to serve time at animal shelter.  Give them a spoon to clean up animal feces .  Given the state of affairs with our court system , the offender would probably just be given a measly fine.

There is a federal law against killing a raptor it is not enforced. Most of the wildlife statutes are not worth the paper they are written on.

As HannahDee states, we must urge our local authorities and lawmakers to strengthen the animal cruelty statutes. Hopefully all the details - such as court date, judge, etc. - will be posted on pet-abuse.com. At that time, it will be important to write polite letters to ask that the maximum sentence be imposed, as well as for the abuser to receive psychological counseling. Too many times, animal abusers are given probation, suspended sentences, fines, community service, etc. This demented individual needs to receive the maximum sentence allowed; sad to think, however, that such a sentence would not even come close to being what he deserves.

Many, many years ago, my high school sweetheart shot and killed a German Shepherd that crossed his path when he and his friend were hiking through the woods. Although that in itself is heinous, at that time the connection between animal abuse and abuse of humans was not well documented, if at all, and as far as I’m aware, the court didn’t take the incident very seriously. My family moved not long after that and he eventually married someone else, but not before torturing and killing her cat in an effort to control her (his girlfriend). James Rodney Hicks went on to become Maine’s first known serial killer; his wife was his first known human victim. (During the time I knew him, I had never witnessed any abusive behavior by him and was taken by complete surprise when he killed the German Shepherd. Just like this torturer, Jimmy had no prior criminal record.)

In this day and age, with all the documentation, there is no excuse to dismiss any animal abuser with a slap on the wrist. Incarcerate them; give them psychological counseling; treat their crime as seriously as a criminal act towards a person; it just may save the life of another animal and/or person.

I’ll never understand how Jimmy came to be so evil, but I’ll always wonder: at the very least, had he received counseling after shooting the dog - and if people in our society were taught to respect ALL life, human and animal - would the three women he murdered still be alive today?

Thought ya’all would like to know..  see below for Florida statute, in case your interested.  From my reading it is self-evident that this sick individual would be charged under section (2) which provides as punishment a prison term not exceeding 5 years (per 775.082), plus a fine of up to $10,000—and if convicted of (2)(a)—which he should be, would also be requred to undergo psychological counseling or complete an anger management treatment program.

IMHO—The punishment available (meaning the max) under the law is adequate… it just needs to be applied to this case. 

Sick, sick, sick.

828.12 Cruelty to animals. —

(1) A person who unnecessarily overloads, overdrives, torments, deprives
of necessary sustenance or shelter, or unnecessarily mutilates, or kills
any animal, or causes the same to be done, or carries in or upon any
vehicle, or otherwise, any animal in a cruel or inhumane manner, is guilty
of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082
or by a fine of not more than $5,000, or both.

(2) A person who intentionally commits an act to any animal which results
in the cruel death, or excessive or repeated infliction of unnecessary pain
or suffering, or causes the same to be done, is guilty of a felony of the
third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or by a fine of not more
than $10,000, or both.

(a) A person convicted of a violation of this subsection, where the
finder of fact determines that the violation includes the knowing and
intentional torture or torment of an animal that injures, mutilates, or
kills the animal, shall be ordered to pay a minimum mandatory fine of
$2,500 and undergo psychological counseling or complete an anger management
treatment program.

(b) Any person convicted of a second or subsequent violation of this
subsection shall be required to pay a minimum mandatory fine of $5,000 and
serve a minimum mandatory period of incarceration of 6 months. In addition,
the person shall be released only upon expiration of sentence, shall not be
eligible for parole, control release, or any form of early release, and
must serve 100 percent of the court-imposed sentence. Any plea of nolo
contendere shall be considered a conviction for purposes of this
subsection.

Nothing is online yet, but you may want to follow the case once its filed, etc by searching the docket records.... get there by going to http://publicrecord.hillsclerk.com/ and then doing a party search.  This will let you know when the hearing dates and times are.........