Posted on 01/06/2023 6:03:06 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
DUNNELLON, Fla. - A Florida man was arrested after detectives say he purposely poisoned pets in his neighborhood using antifreeze.
Marion County investigators arrested 36-year-old Jeremy Stromwall on aggravated animal cruelty charges. On Dec. 2, deputies responded to the 20100 block of Southwest 84th Lane in Dunnellon after receiving a report that a cat had possibly been poisoned.
The pet owner, John Scharf, told investigators his cat, named "Mr. Cat," began acting sick and was having seizures the previous night. He took Mr. Cat to Dunnellon Animal Hospital for treatment, where it passed away. According to the sheriff's office, further testing determined his pet was likely poisoned.
Scharf told FOX 13 he later realized his dog, Bella, also died after experiencing similar symptoms months earlier.
"Oh my gosh, it was terrible," he recalled. "I was up with the poor kitty all night. It was going through convulsions. It was just terrible. It's a tragedy. It's one of these things where you just don't think that you're around people that could do that."
According to the sheriff's office, a veterinarian at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine determined Mr. Cat likely died from ingesting antifreeze. Investigators then exhumed remains of three pets belonging to one of Scharf's neighbors, Cynthia Hadzima, and learned they were also poisoned with antifreeze.
Detectives said they found a bowl of tuna outside the suspect's home, which is across the street from Scharf and Hadzima. The food was sent to Texas A&M University’s Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, where experts tested the tuna and determined that it had been laced with antifreeze.
"They were cute. They were adorable, soft little furballs," said Hadzima, who said at least five of her cats died the same way. "Within a week or two, I would find cats dead on my front lawn and in my driveway."
Deputies searched Stromwall's property and said they found three containers of antifreeze, multiple cans of tuna, and fish-flavored rat poison.
"We're just very grateful that this investigation was able to be concluded with an arrest of someone who was doing this horrible thing and was unable to just because he was annoyed by them or what have you," said Zach Moore, a spokesperson for the Marion County Sheriff's Office.
"[Stromwall] really needs to be in jail. He really does," added Hadzima. "There's something wrong with this guy. He's sick, and he's very, very sick."
The four counts of aggravated animal cruelty charges stem from the four animals that tested positive for antifreeze poisoning.
FOX 13 stopped by Stromwall's home, but no one answered the door.
Animal shelters kill pets all the time.
If people really cared for their pets they would keep them under control, safe inside their own homes.
Letting them roam freely outside, where they can be hit by a car or harmed by psychos like this, is the ultimately cruelty.
We have talked about trying to encourage owls to nest on our property, to get rid of squirrels, rats, and strays.
Dogs shouldn’t be off leash outside of their yard, and after your cats keep dying on your lawn, how do you keep letting the new ones out?
Yes, the poisoner is a sick vicious SOB and I don’t care if he is a frustrated bird lover and a gardener whose flowers were wrecked, or if he was doing it for fun.
But come on people, if you own pets, you have to watch out for sick SOBs. That’s the third cat dead in two months,no curiosity, no caution, oh well, get some kittens and let them roam.
“Lots of people have multiple cans of tuna, anti-freeze and rat poison.”
But not everyone puts antifreeze laced tuna outside ...
“Animal shelters kill pets all the time.”
Glycol poisoning is a very painful death and once the process gets going, nothing can stop it. I wouldn’t be surprised if vets euthanize victims before they die of it.
Stupid kids will eat worms and dirt; do you think that’s a good idea to leave poisoned food around?
I would never poison a cat roaming on my property, or a cute little dog, or any other harmless living thing, but if someone’s larger dog were roaming... Though I never did it, I did consider antifreeze to off a couple of pit bulls.
Should I stop using glue traps for mice and rats?
Exactly. I would never poison someone’s pet, but I grew tired of cats shitting in my kids’ sandbox. I don’t let my dog roam the neighborhood all night. I don’t know why cat owners think it’s ok.
Nah... You ever live on a military base where tons of service members get cats only to abandon them once they go on deployment?
They're a serious nuisance.
“Animal shelters kill pets all the time.”
Glycol poisoning is a very painful death and once the process gets going, nothing can stop it. I wouldn’t be surprised if vets euthanize victims before they die of it.
Stupid kids will eat worms and dirt; do you think that’s a good idea to leave poisoned food around?
You’er sick.
Needs death by the same means. It is horrible.
Anybody who will do this will do worse. It is why animal cruelty has been a serious concern in the past. Another sign of a sick and troubled mind.
“Should I stop using glue traps for mice and rats?”
I would use spring traps myself.
“I wonder when this little psycho would have graduated to humans. “
Cats shit in your garden and spread disease and worms.
Good riddance.
“Your buddy’s dad was a psycho.”
He was performing a necessary community service.
Do you own a flyswatter? Is it registered?
I’ve rescued strays and ferals. Murdering them is pure evil.
I completely understand the urge.
As long as you can dehumanize something, it’s very easy to justify murdering it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.