25 Cats Found Murdered in Yonkers, New York: An Atrocious Act of Animal Cruelty

Hardly a day goes by when my email box isn’t filled with news items about animal cruelty. While these stories are always shocking and greatly disturbing; an article published on April 26 in the New York Times was blood curdling.

25 Cats Found Murdered in Yonkers
25 Cats Found Murdered in Yonkers. Photo Credit: SPCA
Two useful tags. Click either to see the articles: Toxic to cats | Dangers to cats

However, a word of warning to our readers. This material is gruesome, so discretion is advised before reading further. There are monsters who may still be roaming the streets of Yonkers, New York!

His or her horrifying acts of cruelty to cats were uncovered on April 25, by a crew of workers from the Yonkers Department of Public Works while clearing debris from an area of the county overlooking the Hudson River. Glenn Stefanik, a member of the crew all suddenly spied something that appeared to be extremely puzzling.

Initially it was hard to determine what the object was; but on closer inspection he saw a white cat hanging from a branch of a tree. The cat had been eviscerated making it difficult to identify the object. Alongside the dead cat there hung a black bag.

Stefanik said:

“We pulled on the bag and a little black kitten fell out. It was a day or two old.”

But as they were thoroughly searching the area, much to their horror and dismay, they discovered more than two dozen identical bags hanging from tree branches amongst the beer bottles and entangled vines.

The crew quickly contacted the local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals,(SPCA). The agency’s Director of Humane Law Enforcement, Ernest Lungaro arrived on the scene shortly thereafter. He said,

“We have never been confronted by a scene like this.”

More than twenty five dead cats were found at the grizzly scene; all in different stages of decay. Every cat was stuffed into plastic shopping bags. According to authorities, after examining the skeletal remains they determined that these cat killings may have started as long as a year ago, and have been continuing through the present.

The results of the necropsies performed on the more recently deceased cats indicated that blunt force trauma to the head was used to kill them. Also recovered from the area was a metal pipe, two shovels and a wooden baseball bat. The police were notified immediately. Both the SPCA and the police are working together to find the people responsible for these killings. According to Lt. Patrick McCormack of the Yonkers Police Department, the motive for these cat killings remains a mystery, nor have any suspects been identified.

In New York State, killing a cat in a “depraved and sadistic” fashion is a felony. This crime is punishable with a fine up to $5,000, with a jail term of up to five years.

According to the S.P.C.A, Westchester County is home to a large feral cat population and there is a colony of cats living in an area close to the location where the dead cats were found.

McCormack said that due to the fact that the crime scene was so bizarre, local residents have been wondering if these murders had a ritualistic tone. But other than the amount of work that went into hanging the remains, McCormack claimed that they didn’t appear ritualistic. While no reports of missing cats have been called into the police, recently, authorities are questioning people living in close-by neighbourhoods.

A woman who regularly feeds over thirty stray cats commented that she had noticed something strange. She said, “There was a smell on this block for a while. We were thinking it was trash.”

Alley Cat Allies, the leading cat advocacy group in the United States is taking action. Becky Robinson, its founder and president commented that it’s well known that animal cruelty is wide spread in the United States. Robinson said, “But this is the most horrific case we have ever heard of, and it is very disturbing.” The organization is offering a $750 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person or people responsible for these horrendous crimes.

As far as the consequences of these crimes is concerned, this writer feels strongly that a fine of up to $5,000 and five years’ imprisonment is only a “slap on the wrist”. Penalties for such brutal acts of animal cruelty should be far more rigorous and stringent. What punishment would serve to fit these crimes and get the message across that any acts of cruelty to animals will not be tolerated? What do you think? Tell us in a comment.

Jo

Source: the New York Times

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40 thoughts on “25 Cats Found Murdered in Yonkers, New York: An Atrocious Act of Animal Cruelty”

  1. Thanks Dee for posting that. I used to live just a few miles from there- and I definitely would be there if I were still living there.

    But I will be there in spirit- as I am sure all of us will be! We could all have a moment of silence at that time to take part in the memorial service.

    Of course since we all live in different time-zones just note our correct time.

    Reply
  2. A reminder…

    A peaceful memorial service will be held for the cats recently murdered in Yonkers:
    WHEN: Saturday, May 10, 2014
    TIME: 10:30 a.m.
    PLACE: Meet in the parking lot behind 2 Palisades Avenue at John Street & James Street, Yonkers, NY.

    Reply
  3. DNA is providing evidence . All responsible will be convicted and justice will be served. There is someone who witnessed this crime. The reward is also helping in this investigation. Call the police immediately. Neighborhood watch always helps. The organization for all of these cats have been doing a great job. Let these criminals be registered for the crime. Again if you see any assault on any animal please call the police and give a description of what they look like and a license plate if they get into a car.

    Reply
  4. Hey, look at that! All your cats died of “attrition” — just like Alley Cat Allies, HSUS, and SPCA want all your outdoor cats to die. It’s in their rules and advice in how to practice TNR! Then the more suffering cats that they can find in the media to exploit for donations for themselves the wealthier they all become! (Alley Cat Allies’ yearly income alone has now surpassed $7million with $6million in assets from fools like you.)

    Don’t you know how this works? Are you THIS astoundingly stupid and easily manipulated? These “humane” groups ensuring that tortured and slowly dying and suffering cats are everywhere through their TNR programs is their latest main bread & butter! It’s how they all afforded to fly to Hawaii for another “cat conference” not long ago. Forcing cats to suffer to death is a highly lucrative business today! Just ask Alley Cat Allies, HSUS, and SPCA how much money they make on donations for forcing feral cats to suffer to death with their TNR programs! It’s in the $MILLIONS. Support yet another organization that perpetuates and exploits the suffering of animals for their own personal financial gain, then try to sleep well at night.

    What’s the matter? Didn’t you read the rules of what happens to every last outdoor hoarded cat that is allowed to roam free? They die of “attrition”. Do you know what that means? It means death by ANY means. How loving and humane of you!

    ………..remainder deleted as some rudeness in it.

    Reply
    • Woody, don’t you think you are being a bit cynical? Are seriously suggesting that these major charities want to perpetuate feral cats and stray cats so that they can collect more money. I agree that these large charities are businesses and that objective can get in the way of cat welfare but they don’t need to work at ensuring there are feral cats dying or being shot etc. It just happens. I will always happen.

      Reply
    • Can you please rethink your opinion . The agencies don’t get a commission, they get donations . Everything goes to the welfare of the animals. The agencies help these orphan cats and dogs that are abandoned by selfish, ignorant, irresponsible at one time pet owners. They are very affectionate, adorable, loving cats and dogs. Aside from being adopted, these animals provide compassion to many sick people in nursing homes, are trained as seeing eye dogs,also in criminal investigations as Police dogs. All of the above would not be possible without the help of the agencies and they the spend a lot of personal time seeing to the welfare of these animals they don’t have much time for vacation.

      Reply
      • Cristy the person who made that comment (which I allowed to publish but heavily amended) is a idiot. Sorry to use strong language but it is true. He’ll never change his mind. There are lots of people like him unfortunately which is why I published part of his comment.

        Reply

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