KNOX COUNTY, KENTUCKY: A couple of individuals are suspected of ruthlessly abusing a cat and they could be slapped with more charges regarding other abused animals. The adult defendant, Gabriel Messer, 20, is the newest one to face charges of cruelty to animals in the second degree and criminal mischief in the third degree.
Messer is currently held at the Knox County Detention Center on a $5,500 cash bond. The other suspect has been identified as a male juvenile by the deputies in Knox County, Kentucky.
The video of the cat being abused was uploaded on social media
As per the sheriff's department, authorities got a call on Friday, August 18, about a disturbing video posted to social media of two people injuring a cat. One of them was identified as Barbourville resident Messer by the investigators, due to his tattoos.
On Tuesday, August 15, law enforcement officers arrested him for a count of criminal abuse in the second degree involving a juvenile in an unrelated case. He was still locked up.
“The deputies went to the Knox County Detention Center and spoke with Messer confirming the tattoos were his,” deputies wrote according to Law and Crime. “Messer state that he stabbed the cat, but that it was the idea of the juvenile. He claimed he was going to kill the cat and wanted to ‘put it out of it’s misery.'”
The juvenile and Messer gave contradicting account of the incident
According to the sheriff’s office, deputies spoke to the juvenile at his home but his account contradicted with Messer’s; with the former blaming Messer for the incident. “It was determined that the juvenile was the individual filming and laughing in the video,” deputies wrote.
The boy was taken to the Breathitt County Juvenile Detention Center for torture of a dog or cat and criminal mischief in the first degree. “The owner of the animals did state it was hers seen in the video,” authorities wrote. “Additional charges are possible as the owner also stated she had other animals, one of which was a dog found stabbed in a similar manner behind her home in a creek.”
'Most cuddling, caring cat' found tortured to death inside microwave
Meaww previously reported that a cat was discovered inside a microwave after being "tortured and killed" in a shocking incident. Cheech, a 7-month-old cat, was discovered dead in northwest Edmonton, Canada after the house was broken into while the owner was abroad.
According to the Humane Society, it is unlawful to murder a pet in any US state, and torturing or mutilating an animal in this way is a felony offense nationwide.
The PACT (Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture) Act, which forbids animal torture, burning, drowning, or crushing, carries a maximum three-year prison term and a $250,000 fine. In Canada, where this occurrence took place, both offenses are punishable under law.
Liza Sunley, CEO of the Edmonton Humane Society (EHS), said in a statement, "This is a horrific act of cruelty, and our hearts go out to the family who lost their beloved cat and witnessed the aftermath of this disturbing assault."
