06-14-2009, 05:52 PM
Look how smug he looks in his mug shot.
18-year old arrested in Florida cat mutilations
Tips led to surveillance of parents⿿ house
![[Image: 090614-weinman-vsml-9a.vsmall.jpg]](https://msnbcmedia1.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/090614-weinman-vsml-9a.vsmall.jpg)
AP
Tyler Weinman, 18, faces charges of animal cruelty and burglary.
![[Image: APTRANS.gif]](https://msnbcmedia1.msn.com/i/msnbc/Components/Sources/Art/APTRANS.gif)
updated 2 hours, 12 minutes ago
MIAMI - A South Florida teenager was arrested early Sunday and accused of killing and mutilating the cats of his neighbors ⿿ a disturbing string of deaths that has horrified residents and shaken animal lovers in two Miami-area communities.
Tyler Hayes Weinman, 18, was taken into custody at a party, police said. He was still being questioned at Miami-Dade police headquarters while authorities praised the arrest at a press conference Sunday morning.
"I understand that pet owners feel very strongly about their little family members," Miami-Dade County Commissioner Katy Sorenson said. "Animals bring happiness and comfort to our lives. So, to see them so violated and mutilated just defies all common sense and it's painful for everyone involved. Thankfully, for this community, the terror has come to an end."
Weinman was charged with 19 felony counts of animal cruelty, 19 misdemeanor counts of improperly disposing of an animal body and four felony counts of burglary related to the cat deaths. It is unclear if he has an attorney. Messages left at phone numbers for his parents were not immediately returned and no one answered the door at his home.
"I hope it's not true," said 77-year-old Robert Ehrman, who lives across the street from Weinman and called his mother a "lovely person," but said he didn't know the teen well. "It's like a death in the family, I'm sure."
July court date set[/b][/b]Jail officials said a court date has been set for July.
In the past month, residents in the Palmetto Bay and Cutler Bay neighborhoods have reported finding more than two dozen cats killed and mutilated. Some of the dead cats were missing fur ⿿ neighbors said some had been skinned ⿿ and appeared to have been cut with a sharp, straight instrument, police said.
"It's shocking to think that someone who lives right here and is our neighbor could do something like this," said Thomas Shad, whose small black cat, Miss Kitty, was among those killed.
Shad, whose house is near Weinman's, said he had suspected a local resident might be behind the killings, which were first reported in May. Police said they investigated more than 30 cat deaths ⿿ some of them likely caused by dogs ⿿ and received hundreds of tips from concerned citizens.
"This is so important to our community," Miami-Dade Police Department Maj. Julie Miller said of the arrest. "So many lives have been affected ⿿ children, adults, citizens who didn't even have animals affected."
Miller said the investigation is still open and additional arrests might be forthcoming, but she declined to name other suspects. Police said they have been watching the house where Weinman stays with his mother, and neighbors said he was taken to the police station for an interview on his prom night a few weeks ago. Weinman was still wearing a tuxedo when officers whisked him away that night, they said, and he missed the dance.
"If they do get the wrong guy and it's not him, they've ruined his life as it is right now," said 19-year-old Kyle Hantzis, who lives next door to Weinman.
18-year old arrested in Florida cat mutilations
Tips led to surveillance of parents⿿ house
AP
Tyler Weinman, 18, faces charges of animal cruelty and burglary.
updated 2 hours, 12 minutes ago
MIAMI - A South Florida teenager was arrested early Sunday and accused of killing and mutilating the cats of his neighbors ⿿ a disturbing string of deaths that has horrified residents and shaken animal lovers in two Miami-area communities.
Tyler Hayes Weinman, 18, was taken into custody at a party, police said. He was still being questioned at Miami-Dade police headquarters while authorities praised the arrest at a press conference Sunday morning.
"I understand that pet owners feel very strongly about their little family members," Miami-Dade County Commissioner Katy Sorenson said. "Animals bring happiness and comfort to our lives. So, to see them so violated and mutilated just defies all common sense and it's painful for everyone involved. Thankfully, for this community, the terror has come to an end."
Weinman was charged with 19 felony counts of animal cruelty, 19 misdemeanor counts of improperly disposing of an animal body and four felony counts of burglary related to the cat deaths. It is unclear if he has an attorney. Messages left at phone numbers for his parents were not immediately returned and no one answered the door at his home.
"I hope it's not true," said 77-year-old Robert Ehrman, who lives across the street from Weinman and called his mother a "lovely person," but said he didn't know the teen well. "It's like a death in the family, I'm sure."
July court date set[/b][/b]Jail officials said a court date has been set for July.
In the past month, residents in the Palmetto Bay and Cutler Bay neighborhoods have reported finding more than two dozen cats killed and mutilated. Some of the dead cats were missing fur ⿿ neighbors said some had been skinned ⿿ and appeared to have been cut with a sharp, straight instrument, police said.
"It's shocking to think that someone who lives right here and is our neighbor could do something like this," said Thomas Shad, whose small black cat, Miss Kitty, was among those killed.
Shad, whose house is near Weinman's, said he had suspected a local resident might be behind the killings, which were first reported in May. Police said they investigated more than 30 cat deaths ⿿ some of them likely caused by dogs ⿿ and received hundreds of tips from concerned citizens.
"This is so important to our community," Miami-Dade Police Department Maj. Julie Miller said of the arrest. "So many lives have been affected ⿿ children, adults, citizens who didn't even have animals affected."
Miller said the investigation is still open and additional arrests might be forthcoming, but she declined to name other suspects. Police said they have been watching the house where Weinman stays with his mother, and neighbors said he was taken to the police station for an interview on his prom night a few weeks ago. Weinman was still wearing a tuxedo when officers whisked him away that night, they said, and he missed the dance.
"If they do get the wrong guy and it's not him, they've ruined his life as it is right now," said 19-year-old Kyle Hantzis, who lives next door to Weinman.