Reward Offered For Information In Gruesome OKC Animal Cruelty Case

<p>Hefty rewards are being offered to help solve a horrific Oklahoma City Animal Control case.&nbsp;</p>

Wednesday, June 15th 2016, 10:05 pm

By: News 9


Hefty rewards are being offered to help solve a horrific Oklahoma City Animal Control case.

What officers discovered beyond the blades of grass in a field near South MacArthur and Newcastle Road on June 10, was unbelievable.

“It was gruesome. The smell was pretty horrific. It was something that you really only see in the movies,” said Julie Bank, with Oklahoma City Animal Welfare.

Four crates, about the size meant for two cats, were filled with 24 adult cats. In some were six or seven animals, all decomposing after spending at least a week in the heat.

“The crates were covered in maggots, covered in beetles and other types of bugs,” Bank explained.

There were no collars, no microchips, but Bank said some of them had clipped ears, which indicated they’d been sterilized.

Bank said investigators do not know if the cats were alive when they were stuffed into the crates and left in the field, or if they were dead before being thrown away like trash.

“So what happened and what kind of suffering happened? That’s what I go home at night worried about,” Bank told News 9.

Investigators are processing the forensics of the case and are desperate for tips. Multiple groups recently stepped up to offer rewards for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.

“This is an individual that’s dangerous in the community. They perpetrate these crimes of animal cruelty to individuals, to innocent, voiceless beings and those can escalate to people,” said Cynthia Armstrong with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).

The HSUS doubled its standard reward, offering $5,000 in this case. The Oklahoma Alliance for Animals is offering another $2,500 in reward money. And additional earnings are possible through Oklahoma City Police Department’s Crime Stoppers.

Call 405-297-3100 if you know anything.

The Oklahoma City Animal Shelter is open seven days a week and accepts unwanted animals. The shelter also helps pet owners with spay and neutering services, food, and offers free ID tags.

logo

Get The Daily Update!

Be among the first to get breaking news, weather, and general news updates from News 9 delivered right to your inbox!

More Like This

June 15th, 2016

March 22nd, 2024

March 14th, 2024

February 9th, 2024

Top Headlines

March 28th, 2024

March 28th, 2024

March 28th, 2024

March 28th, 2024