Full Version: South Africa: Cat Mutilation (Reward Offered)
Unexplained Mysteries Discussion Forums > Unexplained Mysteries > Metaphysics, Psychology & Psychic Phenomena
Original article referred to in text below
Today's News .. April 18, 2008
THE reward for finding a brutal cat killer has been upped to a massive R20 000! The response and number of people who reacted to the story "My cat has been murdered by satanists" in last week's DistrictMail, has been quite amazing, says the owner of the cat, Leigh De Gouveia.
Leigh has thanked the many animal lovers who phoned and e-mailed her, or sent SMS messages of support. "Many men and women were in tears. They were appalled, shaken and horrified at the brutality with which Gus was tortured and killed."
An autopsy by the vet showed that her cat, Gus, had been tortured while alive. He was disembowelled and all the skin, internal organs and ribs removed. Gus also had incisions running down his legs to his feet and his spinal column was totally exposed.
It is suspected that acid was also poured acid on Gus, says Leigh. A member of the public who has come forward told her it looked like a typical satanist scenario.
An initial reward of R3 000 was offered, R2 000 for information that would lead to the successful arrest and prosecution of the person or people who committed the heinous act, but no one has yet come forward with information.
This reward has now grown to a massive R20 00 after two people offered a further R17 000 to find the cat killer. A trust fund has been created to further the investigation and administer the reward money.
Inspector Hannes Niemand of the Somerset West CID is now also investigating the case. Anyone who can throw light on the killing of Gus, may phone him on (021) 850-2500, or Leigh on 082 214 8842 or e-mail Leigh on info@leighdesign.co.za. All information will be treated with condidentiality(sic).
wow. That's horrible and scary. Poor cat. T_T
I bid them prayers for finding the satanist
I bid them prayers for finding the satanist
Ritual Hallowe'en Cat Sacrifices a Myth - Experts Say
Maryann Mott
for National Geographic News
October 26, 2007
On the day after Halloween in 2004, employees of the Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center found a gruesome sight: a black cat duct-taped to an 8-foot-tall (2.5-meter-tall) crucifix.
"That was shocking," said shelter director Misha Goodman.
Such occurrences, though rare, feed a myth that satanic cults sacrifice black cats on Halloween.
The perceived threat has frightened some U.S. animal shelters into halting black-cat adoptions during October.
But animal-shelter employees and cult experts say it's time to put this urban legend to rest.
The incident in Iowa wasn't carried out as part of a ritualistic mutilation, Goodman said. Instead it was done by a single disturbed adolescent who told friends he thought it would be funny.
Random Acts of Unkindness
Janja Lalich, an associate professor of sociology at California State University in Chico, is an expert on cults.
She doesn't believe such groups are behind the rare instances of Halloween cat mutilation.
"I think it's random acts of unkindness," she said.
Such misdeeds are likely committed by budding psychopaths or teenage pranksters, she added. Adolescents dabbling in Satanism probably perform the killings more for shock value than out of religious belief.
In addition there aren't enough Satanic believers to cause such concern, Lalich said.
While there are no official counts, she estimated that no more than several hundred worshipers belong to organized satanic "churches" in the United States.
No Proof
It's hard to track satanic activity, experts say.
Lesley Bannatyne, an author of several books about Halloween, has found "no confirmed statistics, court cases, or studies to support the idea that serious satanic cult crime even exists."
"It turns out that most of the devil-worshipping activity reported in the media is perpetrated by teenagers based on what they've read in church literature or seen in movies," she writes in the book A Halloween How-To.
In recent weeks, a rash of cat mutilations in San Antonio, Texas, has garnered much attention and some speculation that the killings are linked to religious rituals.
So far five cats have been found either missing limbs or severed in half. Officials say the cuts are clean, showing that the acts are the work of an individual or group—not wild animals.
"Around this time of year, around San Antonio, there's an increased number of cats that we find mutilated," said Elizabeth Brown of the city's Animal Care Services.
The city-run shelter has had a long-standing policy of suspending black cat adoptions prior to Halloween.
Brown said the reason is to prevent cats from being harmed by religious cults or demented individuals. A recent mutilation case involved an aspiring forensic investigator who practiced on felines, she said.
Another San Antonio shelter spokesperson, Lisa Norwood, said she wasn't aware of any local cases involving cat-killing cults. However, the shelter has heard anecdotal reports of the phenomenon occurring elsewhere, she said.
"The temporary suspension of adoptions is an issue of being safe rather than sorry," Norwood added. "It's not because we expect something to happen. It's because we want to prevent something from happening."
"Silly" Fear?
San Antonio isn't the only city concerned about cats' safety.
A handful of shelters call the Humane Society of the United States each year asking if they should enact a similar policy.
Michael Arms, who conducts animal adoption workshops throughout the country, often gets asked the same question.
"There are a lot of organizations out there that still have this fear," said Arms, president of the Helen Woodward Animal Center in Rancho Santa Fe, California. "It's silly."
Before Arms was hired in 1999, the shelter had a no-black-cats adoption policy around Halloween.
Arms got rid of the restriction. He said a solid screening process of adopters is all that's needed to make sure the animals go to good homes.
Denying adoptions only gives the public the wrong idea about black cats, he said.
"It makes people believe these kitties are evil, and they're not," Arms said. "They're lovable."
Maryann Mott
for National Geographic News
October 26, 2007
On the day after Halloween in 2004, employees of the Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center found a gruesome sight: a black cat duct-taped to an 8-foot-tall (2.5-meter-tall) crucifix.
"That was shocking," said shelter director Misha Goodman.
Such occurrences, though rare, feed a myth that satanic cults sacrifice black cats on Halloween.
The perceived threat has frightened some U.S. animal shelters into halting black-cat adoptions during October.
But animal-shelter employees and cult experts say it's time to put this urban legend to rest.
The incident in Iowa wasn't carried out as part of a ritualistic mutilation, Goodman said. Instead it was done by a single disturbed adolescent who told friends he thought it would be funny.
Random Acts of Unkindness
Janja Lalich, an associate professor of sociology at California State University in Chico, is an expert on cults.
She doesn't believe such groups are behind the rare instances of Halloween cat mutilation.
"I think it's random acts of unkindness," she said.
Such misdeeds are likely committed by budding psychopaths or teenage pranksters, she added. Adolescents dabbling in Satanism probably perform the killings more for shock value than out of religious belief.
In addition there aren't enough Satanic believers to cause such concern, Lalich said.
While there are no official counts, she estimated that no more than several hundred worshipers belong to organized satanic "churches" in the United States.
No Proof
It's hard to track satanic activity, experts say.
Lesley Bannatyne, an author of several books about Halloween, has found "no confirmed statistics, court cases, or studies to support the idea that serious satanic cult crime even exists."
"It turns out that most of the devil-worshipping activity reported in the media is perpetrated by teenagers based on what they've read in church literature or seen in movies," she writes in the book A Halloween How-To.
In recent weeks, a rash of cat mutilations in San Antonio, Texas, has garnered much attention and some speculation that the killings are linked to religious rituals.
So far five cats have been found either missing limbs or severed in half. Officials say the cuts are clean, showing that the acts are the work of an individual or group—not wild animals.
"Around this time of year, around San Antonio, there's an increased number of cats that we find mutilated," said Elizabeth Brown of the city's Animal Care Services.
The city-run shelter has had a long-standing policy of suspending black cat adoptions prior to Halloween.
Brown said the reason is to prevent cats from being harmed by religious cults or demented individuals. A recent mutilation case involved an aspiring forensic investigator who practiced on felines, she said.
Another San Antonio shelter spokesperson, Lisa Norwood, said she wasn't aware of any local cases involving cat-killing cults. However, the shelter has heard anecdotal reports of the phenomenon occurring elsewhere, she said.
"The temporary suspension of adoptions is an issue of being safe rather than sorry," Norwood added. "It's not because we expect something to happen. It's because we want to prevent something from happening."
"Silly" Fear?
San Antonio isn't the only city concerned about cats' safety.
A handful of shelters call the Humane Society of the United States each year asking if they should enact a similar policy.
Michael Arms, who conducts animal adoption workshops throughout the country, often gets asked the same question.
"There are a lot of organizations out there that still have this fear," said Arms, president of the Helen Woodward Animal Center in Rancho Santa Fe, California. "It's silly."
Before Arms was hired in 1999, the shelter had a no-black-cats adoption policy around Halloween.
Arms got rid of the restriction. He said a solid screening process of adopters is all that's needed to make sure the animals go to good homes.
Denying adoptions only gives the public the wrong idea about black cats, he said.
"It makes people believe these kitties are evil, and they're not," Arms said. "They're lovable."
Wait wait wait, I live in South Africa.. Where abouts did this happen?
Article states; 'Somerset West CID is investigating' so presumably cat mute occurred in Somerset West.
Somerset West, about 50 kilometres east of Cape Town, has always been popular as a residential area. Life is quieter here at the foot of the Helderberg, away from the bustle of the city, bordering on beautiful vinelands and close to the warm Indian Ocean.
A few kilometres north of Somerset West lies one of the most beautiful wine estates of the Cape. The Vergelegen Wine Estate was founded in 1700 by Willem Adriaan van der Stel. The Cape Dutch manor houses are surrounded by expansive English gardens. The Chinese camphor trees at the front gate are over 300 years old. Their trunks measure some metres in diameter and being the oldest trees in South Africa; they were declared National Monuments.
Somerset West, about 50 kilometres east of Cape Town, has always been popular as a residential area. Life is quieter here at the foot of the Helderberg, away from the bustle of the city, bordering on beautiful vinelands and close to the warm Indian Ocean.
A few kilometres north of Somerset West lies one of the most beautiful wine estates of the Cape. The Vergelegen Wine Estate was founded in 1700 by Willem Adriaan van der Stel. The Cape Dutch manor houses are surrounded by expansive English gardens. The Chinese camphor trees at the front gate are over 300 years old. Their trunks measure some metres in diameter and being the oldest trees in South Africa; they were declared National Monuments.
QUOTE (Way_Beyond @ Apr 19 2008, 01:01 PM) 
[size=4][color="#4169E1"] Somerset West, [u]about 50 kilometres east of Cape Town
Ahh, in KZN here. Sorry to hear about the situation, I hope you get it sorted out. If I ever hear anything on this side, I will let you know.
disgusting, the person or people to have committed these crimes should have the same done to them.
This recent (April 14th) incident was written off as predatory animal attack .. the pet owner found that explanation as unsatisfactory .. below is the original report, then an editorial submission (by the pet owner) ostensibly in response to (the) statement as released by investigators (bottom).
My Cat Had Been Decapitated!
Largo, Florida - When we hold our cats, they are like our babies” says Michael Paradise, but the family that he and his wife Kelly have built in recent years was met with tragedy last weekend as their beloved cat Oscar was found mutilated. It's not like my cat got run over. It's not like some random kid with a new BB gun just doing target practice. This is someone who intentionally cut our cat in half says Kelly.
Unfortunately they are not alone. Adrienne Samartino made a horrific discovery after her cat Bullet went missing. My cat had been decapitated and skinned and thrown back in my yard says Samartino.
So far three cats have turned up mutilated in the last month in the Del Prado subdivision. No dogs have been affected, but three more cats in a neighboring subdivision along with two rabbits have met a similar demise. The fact is we have cats that are being mutilated in our neighborhood and we don't want to live in fear. We want this perpetrator caught says Michael.
The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office is aware but the Paradise-who have two other cats-are so disturbed that they are going door to door offering a $200 dollar reward.
To them, every cat deserves nine lives.
Editorial Comment 'My Cat was not Ripped Apart by an Animal'
re: article 'Dog bite, not human hands, killed 2 cats | story, April 13' (referenced below)
Published Tuesday, April 15, 2008 5:55 PM
Cat was not ripped apart by an animal
I am the owner of the cat found on Bella Loma Drive last month. I can assure you that these cat killings are not the act of a dog. I found my cat decapitated, skinned and thrown back in my yard.
There was no blood or fur anywhere, which in my mind indicated that my cat was killed somewhere else. In addition, I have yet to find the top half of him.
There have not been any turkey vultures around to indicate there is anything dead. My cat did not look like it was torn apart, as if it were decapitated by another animal. In the 45-minute time span that I left my home, my cat was killed. Of the six residents I spoke to in my neighborhood, none of them saw any strange or wandering dogs.
The Sheriff's Office did not see my cat in my front yard, skinned and decapitated without blood or fur around. They did not talk to the neighbor whose cat was found dead at the entrance of our subdivision to find out in what condition her cat was found. What about the homeowner in the next subdivision over on Trinidad who found two rabbits and one cat decapitated? Not to mention a slew of other cats missing within the last month or so.
Pinellas County Animal Control and the Sheriff's Office are basing their conclusion on one cat. Wow, I feel real safe knowing that my safety is in good hands of the Sheriff's Office. Let's hope they don't treat a human killing the same way.
Dogs Suspected in Brutal Deaths of Two Cats
Two cats found dismembered in unincorporated Largo recently were not killed by human hands, Pinellas County sheriff's officials said Friday.
Instead, detectives and county animal control officers found the cats' injuries consistent with dog bites, not wounds inflicted by sharp instruments.
The first dead cat was discovered in the 11100 block of Bella Loma Drive on March 13 by a woman who returned home to find her pet dead in the yard.
On April 4, a man walking his dogs just before midnight found the remains of a dismembered cat in a neighbor's yard in the 13500 block of Sorrento Drive.
Officials said whatever killed the cats didn't eat them, suggesting that the attacker was a dog, not a wild animal such as a coyote.
It should be noted his cutting-in-half 'business' has been reported previously in Florida (and points elsewhere) ref. Destin FLA
Destin Florida Animal Cruelty Reward Offer
Plant City Pig Killings and Reward Offer in 'Bubba' Mutilation .. scroll down a bit.
My Cat Had Been Decapitated!
Largo, Florida - When we hold our cats, they are like our babies” says Michael Paradise, but the family that he and his wife Kelly have built in recent years was met with tragedy last weekend as their beloved cat Oscar was found mutilated. It's not like my cat got run over. It's not like some random kid with a new BB gun just doing target practice. This is someone who intentionally cut our cat in half says Kelly.
Unfortunately they are not alone. Adrienne Samartino made a horrific discovery after her cat Bullet went missing. My cat had been decapitated and skinned and thrown back in my yard says Samartino.
So far three cats have turned up mutilated in the last month in the Del Prado subdivision. No dogs have been affected, but three more cats in a neighboring subdivision along with two rabbits have met a similar demise. The fact is we have cats that are being mutilated in our neighborhood and we don't want to live in fear. We want this perpetrator caught says Michael.
The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office is aware but the Paradise-who have two other cats-are so disturbed that they are going door to door offering a $200 dollar reward.
To them, every cat deserves nine lives.
Editorial Comment 'My Cat was not Ripped Apart by an Animal'
re: article 'Dog bite, not human hands, killed 2 cats | story, April 13' (referenced below)
Published Tuesday, April 15, 2008 5:55 PM
Cat was not ripped apart by an animal
I am the owner of the cat found on Bella Loma Drive last month. I can assure you that these cat killings are not the act of a dog. I found my cat decapitated, skinned and thrown back in my yard.
There was no blood or fur anywhere, which in my mind indicated that my cat was killed somewhere else. In addition, I have yet to find the top half of him.
There have not been any turkey vultures around to indicate there is anything dead. My cat did not look like it was torn apart, as if it were decapitated by another animal. In the 45-minute time span that I left my home, my cat was killed. Of the six residents I spoke to in my neighborhood, none of them saw any strange or wandering dogs.
The Sheriff's Office did not see my cat in my front yard, skinned and decapitated without blood or fur around. They did not talk to the neighbor whose cat was found dead at the entrance of our subdivision to find out in what condition her cat was found. What about the homeowner in the next subdivision over on Trinidad who found two rabbits and one cat decapitated? Not to mention a slew of other cats missing within the last month or so.
Pinellas County Animal Control and the Sheriff's Office are basing their conclusion on one cat. Wow, I feel real safe knowing that my safety is in good hands of the Sheriff's Office. Let's hope they don't treat a human killing the same way.
Dogs Suspected in Brutal Deaths of Two Cats
Two cats found dismembered in unincorporated Largo recently were not killed by human hands, Pinellas County sheriff's officials said Friday.
Instead, detectives and county animal control officers found the cats' injuries consistent with dog bites, not wounds inflicted by sharp instruments.
The first dead cat was discovered in the 11100 block of Bella Loma Drive on March 13 by a woman who returned home to find her pet dead in the yard.
On April 4, a man walking his dogs just before midnight found the remains of a dismembered cat in a neighbor's yard in the 13500 block of Sorrento Drive.
Officials said whatever killed the cats didn't eat them, suggesting that the attacker was a dog, not a wild animal such as a coyote.
It should be noted his cutting-in-half 'business' has been reported previously in Florida (and points elsewhere) ref. Destin FLA
Destin Florida Animal Cruelty Reward Offer
Plant City Pig Killings and Reward Offer in 'Bubba' Mutilation .. scroll down a bit.
This article appeared recently in a local Edmonton, AB, (Central Canada) newspaper
Another Mutilated Cat Found in Edmonton March 28th, 2008
Just days before cat lovers converge on the city, the body of a mutilated feline was found in a west-end schoolyard.
"It's absolutely terrible," said Kathy Byram, president of the Edmonton Cat Fanciers Club, which is hosting its biannual cat show this weekend at the Shaw Conference Centre.
Hundreds of pet owners come from across North America for the two-day competition and news that another cat has been killed in the city doesn't sit well with those that love them.
"I truly cannot imagine what's going through the heads of the people that are behaving that way. It just doesn't compute for me at all," Byram said.
Last summer, a feline task force composed of city police, RCMP and provincial enforcement officials was struck after a series of disturbing cat deaths caused by humans.
On Wednesday morning, police were called to Parkview Elementary and Junior High School at 14313 92 Ave. after students found the body of a black and white cat that appeared to have been cut in half and disembowelled.
EPS spokesman Patrycia Chalupczynska said the incident is still being investigated and added that it hasn't been confirmed whether the cat was killed by a human or attacked by another animal.
Steven McLean, 14, a student in Grade 9, said he arrived at 8:30 a.m. and heard about the cat from a friend.
"When I first saw it, I didn't know what it was," he said. "I rolled it over to see what it was and I could see that it was cut clean. I thought it couldn't have been attacked by another animal."
McLean added that a friend of his spotted a pair of scissors nearby where the cat was found.
Barb Hoyle, 65, and her husband, Hugh, 72, live just blocks away from Parkview School.
Two weeks ago their cat, Felix, went missing. The next day, Hugh found the front half of Felix's body in a field near 147 Street and 90 Avenue.
Hugh said they figured coyotes had killed Felix but are now suspicious that he fell victim to another kind of predator.
"Now I think, if that's the other half of him, somebody did him in," he said.
The Edmonton Humane Society reminded pet owners to protect their cats by keeping them indoors.
Horrific cat deaths have plagued the Edmonton area in recent years:
- In September 2006, a teenager on his way to school found a beheaded cat near 121 Avenue and 141 Street. Body parts from other cats had been found in the area between 119 and 121 avenues and 135 and 141 streets earlier that summer.
- As many as 17 cat mutilations in one month in the summer of 2007 prompted the formation of a feline task force composed of city police, City of Edmonton Parks, Alberta Fish and Wildlife, Edmonton bylaw, Alberta SPCA and Mounties from St. Albert and Strathcona. In a news release, the task force said that many studies have demonstrated that violent offenders start with repeated animal cruelty and then escalate their behaviours toward people.
- In August 2007, St. Albert RCMP said they suspected someone had been killing cats and dumping them in the Deer Ridge subdivision near Muriel Martin school.
- That same month, a tabby cat was found hanging by a skipping rope from a car mirror near Commonwealth Stadium.
- In September, a partially skinned cat was found on the grounds behind Holy Cross School at 151 Street and 104 Avenue.
I appreciate your having taken the time to review this material - I would ask you conduct a bit of online homework re: cat mutilations, serial pet killer, purloined pets, 'another mutilated cat' before you post any comment. Comments regarding the depravity of calculated animal cruelty can be 'taken for granted' .. ultimately it doesn't do the animals much good milling over how depraved their attackers are or what you might consider just punishment to be. A more productive strategy (I might suggest) is to look for trends .. do we see any identifiable MO? Are there characteristic hallmarks we see repeated time and again? What are the forensic details .. how noteworthy are official explanations .. how well do they mesh with first-hand/first-responder accounts? How wide-spread a phenomenon is this calculated cruelty .. have there been any leads .. any convictions?
We must assume a detached posture (and put on our detective caps) to best serve the memory of these dumb creatures which met ghastly, undeserved ends. Well-researched comments only - no one-liners .. dig a bit .. I think you'll be surprised at what you may unearth .. Do it for our dumb creatures.
Another Mutilated Cat Found in Edmonton March 28th, 2008
Just days before cat lovers converge on the city, the body of a mutilated feline was found in a west-end schoolyard.
"It's absolutely terrible," said Kathy Byram, president of the Edmonton Cat Fanciers Club, which is hosting its biannual cat show this weekend at the Shaw Conference Centre.
Hundreds of pet owners come from across North America for the two-day competition and news that another cat has been killed in the city doesn't sit well with those that love them.
"I truly cannot imagine what's going through the heads of the people that are behaving that way. It just doesn't compute for me at all," Byram said.
Last summer, a feline task force composed of city police, RCMP and provincial enforcement officials was struck after a series of disturbing cat deaths caused by humans.
On Wednesday morning, police were called to Parkview Elementary and Junior High School at 14313 92 Ave. after students found the body of a black and white cat that appeared to have been cut in half and disembowelled.
EPS spokesman Patrycia Chalupczynska said the incident is still being investigated and added that it hasn't been confirmed whether the cat was killed by a human or attacked by another animal.
Steven McLean, 14, a student in Grade 9, said he arrived at 8:30 a.m. and heard about the cat from a friend.
"When I first saw it, I didn't know what it was," he said. "I rolled it over to see what it was and I could see that it was cut clean. I thought it couldn't have been attacked by another animal."
McLean added that a friend of his spotted a pair of scissors nearby where the cat was found.
Barb Hoyle, 65, and her husband, Hugh, 72, live just blocks away from Parkview School.
Two weeks ago their cat, Felix, went missing. The next day, Hugh found the front half of Felix's body in a field near 147 Street and 90 Avenue.
Hugh said they figured coyotes had killed Felix but are now suspicious that he fell victim to another kind of predator.
"Now I think, if that's the other half of him, somebody did him in," he said.
The Edmonton Humane Society reminded pet owners to protect their cats by keeping them indoors.
Horrific cat deaths have plagued the Edmonton area in recent years:
- In September 2006, a teenager on his way to school found a beheaded cat near 121 Avenue and 141 Street. Body parts from other cats had been found in the area between 119 and 121 avenues and 135 and 141 streets earlier that summer.
- As many as 17 cat mutilations in one month in the summer of 2007 prompted the formation of a feline task force composed of city police, City of Edmonton Parks, Alberta Fish and Wildlife, Edmonton bylaw, Alberta SPCA and Mounties from St. Albert and Strathcona. In a news release, the task force said that many studies have demonstrated that violent offenders start with repeated animal cruelty and then escalate their behaviours toward people.
- In August 2007, St. Albert RCMP said they suspected someone had been killing cats and dumping them in the Deer Ridge subdivision near Muriel Martin school.
- That same month, a tabby cat was found hanging by a skipping rope from a car mirror near Commonwealth Stadium.
- In September, a partially skinned cat was found on the grounds behind Holy Cross School at 151 Street and 104 Avenue.
I appreciate your having taken the time to review this material - I would ask you conduct a bit of online homework re: cat mutilations, serial pet killer, purloined pets, 'another mutilated cat' before you post any comment. Comments regarding the depravity of calculated animal cruelty can be 'taken for granted' .. ultimately it doesn't do the animals much good milling over how depraved their attackers are or what you might consider just punishment to be. A more productive strategy (I might suggest) is to look for trends .. do we see any identifiable MO? Are there characteristic hallmarks we see repeated time and again? What are the forensic details .. how noteworthy are official explanations .. how well do they mesh with first-hand/first-responder accounts? How wide-spread a phenomenon is this calculated cruelty .. have there been any leads .. any convictions?
We must assume a detached posture (and put on our detective caps) to best serve the memory of these dumb creatures which met ghastly, undeserved ends. Well-researched comments only - no one-liners .. dig a bit .. I think you'll be surprised at what you may unearth .. Do it for our dumb creatures.
Some sick assed folks in this world.
disgusting...
I would stress (the) importance of well-researched comments .. no 'one-liners' means pretty much that .. no one-line responses (please). Not doing anyone any good .. and to be honest .. in as far as atrocities committed is concerned I think we have bigger issues at hand than animal mutilation. Never-the-less it's an atrocity. A mysterious one at that .. one that begs to be solved .. this globally (re)occurring, unresolved, serial, domestic pet mutilation pandemic. Truly a Sherlock Holmes enigma of the first order.. complete with scant but re-occurring forensic hallmarks. Put on your thinking caps and grab your magnifying glasses! It's a good exercise in remaining objective .. getting 'grossed out' or emotional doesn't serve anyone (except the perpetrator) as it muddies and confuses the facts and their presentation. Remain objective and again please try and formulate cohesive long-winded thought-provoking sentences .. our pets deserve more than just common expressions of revulsion .. well-intentioned perhaps, but completely unproductive and not in keeping with the tradition of Unexplained-Mysteries. We're here to solve this mystery - not flounder in it. Do your bit and investigate (and share). Is that reasonable? Is that asking (or expecting too much?) I don't think so.
Seventh Cat Found Skinned and Mutilated on Golf Course Jan 27, 2007
Serial Cat Killer Strikes Again January 31, 2007 article below ..
Three more cats have been skinned, disembowelled and left on public display in Darwin, bringing the total number of dead felines in the past two months to 10.
The horrific spate of killings started in November last year, when workers at Palmerston Golf Course stumbled across the first mutilated cat.
Since then, the bodies of six more cats have been dumped with their organs displayed around them in the same area.
Last Tuesday employees at the golf course found a cat that had been stolen from its owner and killed at an unknown location.
The mutilated cat was still wearing a collar at the base of its head, which was the only part of the animal to be left intact.
Police had hoped it would be the last of the vicious incidents but, following the discovery of three more cats in the Palmerston area, they are now warning of more brutal killings.
Members of the public were today called upon to come forward with any information that might assist detectives.
"We are concerned that the person or persons committing these offences may continue," said Sergeant Rob Jordan of Palmerston police station.
"If members of the public locate cats that have been killed in this manner we urge them to leave it where it was found and call police straight away."
Sergeant Jordan said the horrendous nature of the crimes was shocking.
"We are extremely concerned at the cruelty being inflicted on these animals and are urging anyone with information that could assist police with their investigations to come forward," he said.
Of the most recent finds, two were in the Gunn area while one was in a park near Aunger and Lambrick Avenue in the nearby Bakewell area.
Sergeant Jordan said the person or people responsible might reside in the Driver or Durack areas, which are close by.
"We urge residents who live in those two suburbs to be vigilant and call police immediately if they suspect or know of any similar incidences," he said.
Police don't think the attacks are linked to the brutal bashing deaths of three cats at the Darwin RSPCA (ed. weird) earlier this month.
I have it on good authority (that) the management (and members) of the golf course set-up night-vision surveillance. This, ostensibly (of course) to capture (evidence) of who (or whatever) was responsible for these acts of animal cruelty. This avenue of investigation evidently 'bore no fruit.' i.e. nothing unusual was spotted.
Trophy Hunters Suspected in Headless Crocs (Case) Darwin N.T. AU July 31 2006
The salt-water crocodile is a most heavily protected species in Australia .. fines can be up to a quarter of a million dollars for molesting these creatures .. heavy fines for even handling (taxidermy) of crocodile carcasses. No one in their right mind would touch it. Presumably required a 'head shot' which would severly diminish it's display value - who would dare display a stuffed salty in AU ??
I'm unsure how near (or far) to the Palmerston Golf Course these crocodiles were (found) but safe to suggest within a fifty mile radius - perhaps much closer .. could use some 'investigative clarification'.
Similarily ANOTHER headless crocodile was found in neighbouring Queensland (see link below) - roughly in the same time-frame .. penalties for crocodile poaching are the same in the State of Queensland as they are in the Northern Territories (i.e. massive).
Parks People Seek Clues to Headless Croc (Find) in Murray River
This was followed by the high-strangeness sting-ray mutilations (see link below) thought to be associated with the untimely demise of actor/conservationist Steve Irwin .. although this was never conclusively established. I have difficulty imagining how one executes such 'high-strangeness' serial marine animal mutilation. It should be noted it stopped seemingly as mysteriously as it began .. it has not re-occurred - to the best of my knowledge. Personally, I suggest drawing connections to Steve Irwin's unfortunate death only serve to high-light and possibly heighten the high-strangeness element .. it's strikes me as more a 'grasping at straws' hypothesis than a viable explanation as to what happened to these stingrays.
High-Strangeness Stingray Mutilations (Possible Steve Irwin Connection)?
Kangaroo Mutilations Startle Australians
KANGAROO MUTILATIONS STARTLE AUSTRALIANS
"The bodies of a dozen decapitated kangaroos have been found at a suburban golf course. Their bodies were found on the grounds of the golf course at Yarrambat and neighbouring areas in the past two weeks."
"The RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals--J.T.) said the attacks were horrific and is working with the Nillumbik Shire Council to find the perpetrator. Police have also been notified."
"RSPCA senior investigator Ken Waixel said the attacks were extremely insane."
"'This type of behaviour, if it is a single individual, is particularly graphic,' he said, 'There is a link to violence against animals with violence to people. It is a very distressing issue. We're asking for community assistance to find out who the perpetrator is.'"
"Mayor Greg Johnson said the council was baffled by the attacks."
"'We're at a loss as to what's going on here. It's a dreadful thing, and we're very concerned about it,' he said." (See the Australian newspaper Herald-Sun for August 10, 2005, "Kangaroos' heads chopped off."
Decapitated Kangaroos Found (Blog .. significant down-load) Thursday, August 11, 2005
The bodies of a dozen decapitated kangaroos have been found on a golf course over the past 10 weeks, their heads missing. Officials are baffled by the beheadings on the Yarrambat Park course near Melbourne. The course is next to a wildlife park and kangaroos frequently graze there. Australian RSPCA inspector Catherine Smith, said: "It's strange. The heads have been taken off with a clean cut." The course's groundsman discovered the first few dead animals and buried - but more and more kept appearing. Rod Joronen told reporters: "I've been here 20 years and I've never seen anything like it." Officials said that one possibility was that the animals may have been shot first in the head and when their heart stopped, had their heads cut off. (ed.) then again, maybe not!
Outrage over Kiling of Kangaroos in Murramarang National Park 12 Jun 2007 All three kangaroos were found within a hundred metres of each other near the boat ramp at South Durras. One had been decapitated, ... .... (ed.) perhaps entirely unrelated.
Seventh Cat Found Skinned and Mutilated on Golf Course Jan 27, 2007
Serial Cat Killer Strikes Again January 31, 2007 article below ..
Three more cats have been skinned, disembowelled and left on public display in Darwin, bringing the total number of dead felines in the past two months to 10.
The horrific spate of killings started in November last year, when workers at Palmerston Golf Course stumbled across the first mutilated cat.
Since then, the bodies of six more cats have been dumped with their organs displayed around them in the same area.
Last Tuesday employees at the golf course found a cat that had been stolen from its owner and killed at an unknown location.
The mutilated cat was still wearing a collar at the base of its head, which was the only part of the animal to be left intact.
Police had hoped it would be the last of the vicious incidents but, following the discovery of three more cats in the Palmerston area, they are now warning of more brutal killings.
Members of the public were today called upon to come forward with any information that might assist detectives.
"We are concerned that the person or persons committing these offences may continue," said Sergeant Rob Jordan of Palmerston police station.
"If members of the public locate cats that have been killed in this manner we urge them to leave it where it was found and call police straight away."
Sergeant Jordan said the horrendous nature of the crimes was shocking.
"We are extremely concerned at the cruelty being inflicted on these animals and are urging anyone with information that could assist police with their investigations to come forward," he said.
Of the most recent finds, two were in the Gunn area while one was in a park near Aunger and Lambrick Avenue in the nearby Bakewell area.
Sergeant Jordan said the person or people responsible might reside in the Driver or Durack areas, which are close by.
"We urge residents who live in those two suburbs to be vigilant and call police immediately if they suspect or know of any similar incidences," he said.
Police don't think the attacks are linked to the brutal bashing deaths of three cats at the Darwin RSPCA (ed. weird) earlier this month.
I have it on good authority (that) the management (and members) of the golf course set-up night-vision surveillance. This, ostensibly (of course) to capture (evidence) of who (or whatever) was responsible for these acts of animal cruelty. This avenue of investigation evidently 'bore no fruit.' i.e. nothing unusual was spotted.
Trophy Hunters Suspected in Headless Crocs (Case) Darwin N.T. AU July 31 2006
The salt-water crocodile is a most heavily protected species in Australia .. fines can be up to a quarter of a million dollars for molesting these creatures .. heavy fines for even handling (taxidermy) of crocodile carcasses. No one in their right mind would touch it. Presumably required a 'head shot' which would severly diminish it's display value - who would dare display a stuffed salty in AU ??
I'm unsure how near (or far) to the Palmerston Golf Course these crocodiles were (found) but safe to suggest within a fifty mile radius - perhaps much closer .. could use some 'investigative clarification'.
Similarily ANOTHER headless crocodile was found in neighbouring Queensland (see link below) - roughly in the same time-frame .. penalties for crocodile poaching are the same in the State of Queensland as they are in the Northern Territories (i.e. massive).
Parks People Seek Clues to Headless Croc (Find) in Murray River
This was followed by the high-strangeness sting-ray mutilations (see link below) thought to be associated with the untimely demise of actor/conservationist Steve Irwin .. although this was never conclusively established. I have difficulty imagining how one executes such 'high-strangeness' serial marine animal mutilation. It should be noted it stopped seemingly as mysteriously as it began .. it has not re-occurred - to the best of my knowledge. Personally, I suggest drawing connections to Steve Irwin's unfortunate death only serve to high-light and possibly heighten the high-strangeness element .. it's strikes me as more a 'grasping at straws' hypothesis than a viable explanation as to what happened to these stingrays.
High-Strangeness Stingray Mutilations (Possible Steve Irwin Connection)?
Kangaroo Mutilations Startle Australians
KANGAROO MUTILATIONS STARTLE AUSTRALIANS
"The bodies of a dozen decapitated kangaroos have been found at a suburban golf course. Their bodies were found on the grounds of the golf course at Yarrambat and neighbouring areas in the past two weeks."
"The RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals--J.T.) said the attacks were horrific and is working with the Nillumbik Shire Council to find the perpetrator. Police have also been notified."
"RSPCA senior investigator Ken Waixel said the attacks were extremely insane."
"'This type of behaviour, if it is a single individual, is particularly graphic,' he said, 'There is a link to violence against animals with violence to people. It is a very distressing issue. We're asking for community assistance to find out who the perpetrator is.'"
"Mayor Greg Johnson said the council was baffled by the attacks."
"'We're at a loss as to what's going on here. It's a dreadful thing, and we're very concerned about it,' he said." (See the Australian newspaper Herald-Sun for August 10, 2005, "Kangaroos' heads chopped off."
Decapitated Kangaroos Found (Blog .. significant down-load) Thursday, August 11, 2005
The bodies of a dozen decapitated kangaroos have been found on a golf course over the past 10 weeks, their heads missing. Officials are baffled by the beheadings on the Yarrambat Park course near Melbourne. The course is next to a wildlife park and kangaroos frequently graze there. Australian RSPCA inspector Catherine Smith, said: "It's strange. The heads have been taken off with a clean cut." The course's groundsman discovered the first few dead animals and buried - but more and more kept appearing. Rod Joronen told reporters: "I've been here 20 years and I've never seen anything like it." Officials said that one possibility was that the animals may have been shot first in the head and when their heart stopped, had their heads cut off. (ed.) then again, maybe not!
Outrage over Kiling of Kangaroos in Murramarang National Park 12 Jun 2007 All three kangaroos were found within a hundred metres of each other near the boat ramp at South Durras. One had been decapitated, ... .... (ed.) perhaps entirely unrelated.
Just wondering, why is this in the metaphysics sect?
I think you'll gain a feel for why this belongs in this thread .. especially in light of there not being a more particular thread .. this material could be subject to being bounced around like a rubber ball. I felt Metaphysics is a nice all-encompassing term for someting which may very well prove itself to be of non-prosaic (everyday) origin. I'd like to think we're not so Hollywood jaded as to not provide a forum for such attacks on the fellow creature inhabitants of our planet Earth. But I get this feeling this entire thread is going to get relegated to the back forty somewhere .. when in fact it should really be high-lighted in flashing neon. It's the high pinnacle of metaphysics .. no wishy-washy lucid dreaming asstral projection accounts .. we're dealing in Nightstalker Kolchak material here .. are you up to the challenge? I doubt it. That was very much an unresearched one-liner BTW. Let me put it this way .. exactly which part of 'no one-liners' can't you fathom? 'No' as in contra ... 'one' as in the first ordinate on the Natural number line and finally; 'liners' - a not-unheard-of slang term for forum response s... typically used in reference to 'one' liners .. short terse responses. So NO ONE-LINERS (please) would indicate (that) the author of the thread would like to see a more articulate, non-Simian response from the reader. Give it your best metaphysical shot please - I know I am.
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