By Elisa Black-Taylor
Tyler Weinman: Cat killer or not?
Hello everyone. I'm not going to say good because there's nothing good about today's story. I'm behind on my writing so I'll start with the story making me the most angry. And that's putting it mildly!
Today I'd like to bring you an update on the Miami-Dade cats who were found murdered in 2009. They were all mutilated, gutted and posed!
Before I get into the history behind this update, I've been asking myself whether or not I'm trying to "scare" the readers here at pictures-of-cats.org. I've yet to determine my answer. I believe I'm doing my best to show the readers what a horrible world we have out there (especially in the U.S.A.) and give cat lovers a dose of reality they really don't want to think about. I don't want to think about it either. But when people have murdered, mutilated, gutted and posed dozens of cats, and the judge tells the public this person is NOT a danger to himself or the public-OOOHHHH-you don't want to hear what the voices in my head are saying. If I upset 100 people and save one cat, this will be worth it.
The story of the two dozen Miami-Dade cats who were mutilated, gutted and posed began in April 2009 (from what I can determine from the many reports out there) in Southwest Miami-Dade, mainly Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay and Kendall. Thirty-three cats had been reported murdered, 19 of these cases fit the M.O. of the mutilator.
I'm going to give everyone a condensed version of the story. This is a horrific case. There is a photo link on the following page showing one of the murdered cats, but my browser refused to open it (thank GOD!). http://www.pet-abuse.com/cases/15514/FL/US/. To get a very in-depth view of the case, enter Miami-Dade cats mutilated in 2009 and take your pick of the stories. I really wouldn't suggest my readers do this. This is the worst case I've ever reported on.
The police urged the public to help find the suspect by offering a community reward. I would like to add that one obstacle hampering the search was the cat owner's would move the cat before the police conducted an investigation. For future reference, leave the animal as you find it. As with a human crime scene, do NOT touch it and secure the area if possible until the police take over. A police officer's cat was one of the victims.
This link tells of the reward reaching $12000 and has a list of each of the cat killing stories as they happened. It's possible the amount went higher. I researched more than 50 sources and this was the highest I located: Neighbors unite against cat killing - link broken Oct 2012.
On June 14, 2009, a neighborhood teen, Tyler Hayes Weinman, 18, was arrested at a friends house and charged with 19 cases of animal cruelty. One reference listed 21 cases of animal cruelty. His address is listed in the Cutler Bay area of Dade County. So he lived right in the middle of where the crimes took place. His father is a dentist and an upstanding member of the community. And Tyler has two juvenile arrests for possession of marijuana1.
The killings stopped after Weinman was arrested and taken off of the streets.
Police installed a tracking device on his car about two weeks before his arrest.
Readers, this is exactly what I've been telling you for close to a year now! Take a look at the CBS photo I've enclosed of him. What a handsome young man! This is NOT the face of a killer. Or is it? Please keep in mind everything I've written about "the people next door" being the greatest enemy to your cat!
Weinman was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center with bail set at $154,500. During his bond court hearing, that amount was increased to $249 thousand.
Shortly after his bond was set, Weinman was placed on suicide watch and placed on the 9th floor of the Miami-Dade jail, which is usually reserved for psychological evaluation. He was deemed "not a danger to himself or others" and was arraigned on July 6, 20092.
He was ordered to house arrest and required to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet and attend court ordered counseling sessions while he awaits trial.
Legally, Tyler Weinman has been charged with 19 counts of animal cruelty, improperly disposing of the cat's bodies, and four counts of burglary connected with stealing the cats. If convicted (trial is listed as October 25, 2010 by one source, although CBS4.com Miami state the trial will be December 17, 2010), he faces over 150 years in prison.
I'm going to leave you now. Tyler's defense will be the subject of my next article. He still stresses his innocence. That article will appear on Wednesday, October 20, 2010. Please return to pictures-of-cats for the conclusion.
Tyler Weinman and his attorney, David Macey, say the truth will come out at his trial.
I invite any comments on part 1. Part 2, however, may (or may not) change your opinion of Tyler.
I personally spoke with cbs4 news Monday afternoon and Tyler is still claiming he is innocent.
Elisa
Sources:
1. http://cbs4.com/local/cat.cats.mutilated.2.1043752.html
2. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/07/06/national/main5137188.shtml
http://cbs4.com/local/cat.cats.mutilated.2.1044730.html
From Miami-Dade Cats Found Mutilated, Gutted and Posed: Part 1 to Home Page
