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By JOSH THOMAS and CHRIS CHMURA
TAMPA - Authorities are investigating a heartbreaking case of animal cruelty in Tampa today.
“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.
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“Skeeter”
Investigators say neighbors 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 drowned in large garbage cans.
Officers have placed Richard Wyatt, 30, under arrest at his home, 8410 Orangeview Ave North.
“This is direct, deliberate torture,” said Ofc. Greg Hattle. “This isn’t something like not feeding your dog for three or four days.”
Hattle says Wyatt is charged with at least three counts of felony animal abuse.
A neighbor who lives across the street from Wyatt and identified herself only as “Nicole,” said her 8-month-old Siamese mix Skeeter is one of the dead cats.
“This was an ongoing problem that escalated,” said the tearful 23-year-old. “He would shoot animals.”
A Tampa Police report says Animal control will conduct necropsies, which are the animals equivalent of an autopsy. Evidence of torture could lead to more charges.
Wyatt was upset that neighbor’s cats were on his property, according to a Tampa Police incident log.
Stay with TBO.com for details.
What is wrong with these SICK people!
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Posted by lisa Vader, Tampa on 11/28 at 01:00 PM
I say an eye for an eye! Don’t waste my tax dollars on this garbage- burn him and drown him in a trash can. A sicko like him is not even worth trying to rehab… Next time you read about him, he will have hurt a woman or a child.