9th cat found killed in Thurston County
Aug 22, 2018, 6:05 AM | Updated: 8:55 am
A 9th cat was found dead along Lilly Road in Olympia. (KIRO 7)
(KIRO 7)
A ninth mutilated cat has been found in Thurston County.
The cat’s owners found the body laid out in the open on Lilly Road in Olympia Monday. The cat was an 11-year-old black family pet named Midnight. Tuesday, a veterinarian examined the cat and determined the injuries are consistent with the eight other cats recently killed in the area.
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Investigators said there’s no question these animals are being killed by a human.
“These animals are all being displayed. It’s almost like a trophy, I’ve said it’s almost like an arsonist. Where they light the fire and come back to the scene to watch the reactions. These animals are always being left in busy, public areas for people to find it,” said Erika Johnson, Thurston County Cruelty Investigator.
Right now, the reward still stands at $21,000, but it’s likely to go up soon.
If you know anything, call Thurston County Animal Services.
Earlier story:
A beheaded kitten was found in Lacey Wednesday, Aug. 15, bringing the total number of mutilated cats found in Thurston County to eight.
“He or she is displaying these cats after they’re mutilated, so that’s obviously some sort of sick perverse pleasure,” said Thurston County Animal Control cruelty investigator Erika Johnson.
Johnson said it takes a sick person to kill and dismember helpless animals.
“Not only does this person have to be indifferent to suffering of an animal, but I think it’s a pretty dark mind when you resort to something like this and you actually carry it out,” she said.
The kitten’s body was found in the Clearbook community. It’s the same spot where three other mutilated cats were found in February.
The cat killings have put this community on edge.
“It’s historically been found that people who abuse humans in one way or the other have started out on animals,” said Johnson.
Steve Fogg is a former King County prosecuting attorney. He spent years putting murderers behind bars and echoes Johnson’s claims.
“I’ve prosecuted a number of psychopaths and killers, and one thing that is shockingly common, but not common across the rest of the world, is animal abuse,” he said.
Police have hundreds of tips, and they hope one of them cracks this case.
Investigators are searching for the kitten’s owner.
The reward for information leading to an arrest is now $21,000.
By Shelby Miller, KIRO 7
