Mo. Man Charged With Burning Kitten

Drudge | July 16 | AP

[SLB]

LIBERTY, Mo.- A man was arrested Tuesday for allegedly burning a kitten on a barbecue grill as several other people stood around and watched in amusement.

A witness pulled the scorched, 7-week-old tabby from the hot coals, but it was severely injured and had to be put to death, police said.

"They kept saying, `Meow, meow,' and they were poking at it with a stick," said Sherry Scott, who burned her hand grabbing the kitten.

Charles C. Benoit, 24, was charged with animal abuse, punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. He was jailed on $10,000 bail.

Jim Roberts, spokesman for the Clay County prosecutor's office, said he does not expect anyone else to be charged, because no witnesses could identify the others.

Scott said that on Friday night, she saw 10 or 12 people at the barbecue grill in the courtyard of the apartment complex where she lives. Scott said she asked what they were cooking, and they said it was a cat. She said the group taunted her, daring her to rescue the cat.

She said the group scattered when she threatened to call police. She said she pulled the kitten from where it had been shoved into the coals at the back of the grill. Its tail, whiskers, fur, eyes and throat were scorched.

"I called him Lucky because I thought I got him out of there just in time," she said.

Scott said she and other residents stayed up Friday night trying to nurse the kitten with an eye dropper of milk. But animal control officers decided that because of its respiratory injuries and inability to swallow food, it had to be destroyed.

"If you would have seen him, you would have cried," said Sheri Simpson, one of the residents who helped care for the kitten.

[Black Agnes]

Isn't that always the kind of cat you end up with? stray? :) All my babies are former strays and I love each and every one! (and boy are they spoiled!)

I just get almost physically ill when I hear of this kind of stuff. I can't imagine what kind of sub human would do this to a 7 week old kitten..makes you wonder if they'd do it to an infant as well.

[rintense]

What a di*kless wonder.

He would be after I got through with him.

RWP in full effect.

[Sloth]

Legally speaking, I believe people have a right to do whatever they want with their own property (not established in this article), even live animals.

Personally, however, I hope somebody castrates this guy with a dull shovel.

[Aria]

That is a disgusting, unfunny remark. Torturing a helpless animal like this is so repulsive - everyone knows burning is the worst thing that can happen to you. Nothing funny about it. I hope the guy and his friends rot.

[lelio]

said he does not expect anyone else to be charged, because no witnesses could identify the others.
If the DA jacks up the charges on Charles Benoit then I'm sure he'll suddenly remember who was there.

[catonsville]

Think about it. If this person saw nothing wrong about burning a kitten, what will happen if he gets real mad at an actual human being.

A dangerous ndividual that needs to be locked away for awhile.

[fire_eye]

Scott said that on Friday night, she saw 10 or 12 people at the barbecue grill in the courtyard of the apartment complex where she lives. Scott said she asked what they were cooking, and they said it was a cat. She said the group taunted her, daring her to rescue the cat.

Group?

GROUP?????

What's going on here?

I would be very interested to know the ethnic, religious, and racial composition of this "Group".

[sinkspur]

He'll get out after a few months anyway, if he gets any time at all, and do something worse.

Maybe, but he won't be able to sit for weeks.

I understand that child and animal abusers get passed around 'mongst the boys!

[Ice Wolf]

I agree in principle, SLoth, but I was thinking more along the lines of a roofing hammer.

--IceWolf (who is owned by two cats)

[lelio]

Here's the Clay County, Missouri website, the prosecuting attorney's office is here.
Perhaps a little FReeping will persuade the DA to go heavy on this guy, or at least publically identify everyone involved so that they loose their jobs through disgrace.

[yureikumaTN]

Where is a nice shrapnel filled mortar round when you need it. Or maybe a white phosphorous one. Right in the middle of the group. See how they like their flesh burning. God will not be amused by this.

[biblewonk]

Charles C. Benoit, 24, was charged with animal abuse, punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. He was jailed on $10,000 bail.

Good!

[Sloth]

OK, I'll get one testis with a shovel & you can do the other with a roofing hammer. Whichever makes him scream more will be used on other body parts.

[PhilDragoo]

We have a bunch of stray cats that have adopted us.

We, too, have a continuing series of cats appearing, to whom we extend food, water, and shelter.

I will volunteer the use of the shop and a large inventory of hand and power tools for the re-education of the perp.

My personal choice is my battery charger and a soothing footbath of brick and tile cleaner for conductivity.

[ravingnutter]

No strays here, we have an Egyptian Mau cat and two huge dogs we got from the Humane Society, they are all spoiled rotten. The fact that they are spade/neutered prior to adoption is well worth the $35 cost of adoption and we are assured we have a healthy animal.

Nine years ago, the previous owner of our home in the country left 26 cats behind. We used a live animal trap, caught them, put them in a wire cage and took them to the humane society. Bad part was they got scared when we put them in the vehicle and pooped everywhere, it was disgusting!

I could never hurt an animal...hubby shoots squirrels because they have been stripping the bark off of his trees, which kills the branches. He has to do it when I am not there and not tell me about it.

[scholar]

as several other people stood around and watched in amusement.

Anyone who could witness such a heinous act and find it amusing is every bit as sick as the perpetrator!

[NC_Libertarian]

This should be a capital offense.

[NC_Libertarian]

ping

[Black Agnes]

Ditto re: squirrels. My parents even 'adopted' a skunk. Thing was eating cat food. Looked sorta cat like...now it's a fixture around there. Nobody does anything 'real quick like' when it's around though *laugh*

[RepoGirl]

These SICK SORRY %*#%*!%#^$$#!%@#$% should be given the same treatment!!!! If it were up to me, I'd take their %$^#$@%^ and barbeque it over an open flame, then pour Jack Daniels on it, followed by honey, and then turn the bees loose. Stupid, sick %#%&*@(! (^@#^&&!@*%!@#!^% !&*!#^%&!^#%!!*&%#^*!

I agree, but I think it's a waste of Jack Daniels. How about we use something cheap, like Albertson's brand generic whiskey? We DRINK the Jack Daniels while we watch the bees get turned loose on this scumbag.

There is a special place in hell reserved just for scumbags like these.