A Missouri man is accused of using Craigslist to obtain at least a dozen cats and kittens and then killing and dismembering them, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.
Kaine A. Louzader, 20, of St. Peters, was charged Friday with two felony counts of animal abuse, according to court records. The charges are felonies because Louzader is accused of torturing or mutilating the cats while they were alive.
Louzader is being held in the St. Charles County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bond, according to court records.
Authorities believe Louzader committed the crimes between Jan. 1 and May 9, KMOV reported. According to court documents, Louzader was spotting dumping a dead cat from a bag of water on May 6.
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Police said that during that time frame, one dead cat and three mutilated kittens were found near Louzader’s home, KSDK reported.
St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney Tim Lohmar said Louzader got the cats from people who were offering them for free or for sale on Craigslist, the Post-Dispatch reported.
According to an affidavit filed in court by St. Charles County police Sgt. Jeff Ochs, Louzader admitted that after picking up the cats, he would strangle them or stomp on their heads in the bathtub or on the backyard patio, the Post-Dispatch reported.
Hiram King, who lives in the same subdivision as Louzader, said he was surprised and shocked by the deaths of the felines.
“Why would anybody want to do anything to a cat for, they do nothing bad,” King told KMOV. “Just mean, ain't no excuse for it. I'll be honest with you, there's definitely no excuse for it.”
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