Several cats poisoned
Akron, OH (US)Date: Oct 24, 2000
Disposition: Convicted
Abuser/Suspect: Robert L. Plappert
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An Akron man dubbed "cat killer" faces several months in jail after a judge found him guilty of poisoning two cats with antifreeze in his Goodyear Heights neighborhood.
Robert L. Plappert, 41, faced four counts each of cruelty to animals and poisoning animals, but Akron Municipal Court Judge Elinore Marsh Stormer announced that evidence indicated he was guilty of two counts each in the deaths of cats Zeek Walker and Squirtle Roark.
Plappert, who waived a jury trial, will be sentenced by April 30. He could face 90 days in jail on each cruelty charge and 30 days in jail on each poisoning charge.
Prosecutors and humane officials say Plappert put out a plate of cat food laced with antifreeze in late October and three neighborhood cats ate some of the food and later died. They also say he was responsible for the poisoning death of a fourth cat in November 2000.
Plappert's neighbors on Morningview Avenue testified during his March 22 trial that Plappert made no secret of his dislike of cats and was often heard cursing about them.
While the news of a guilty verdict was pleasing to neighbor Genel Roark, it doesn't heal the wounds Plappert caused her family, especially her four young children. Roark said her family plans to move out of the neighborhood.
The judge, however, said there wasn't enough evidence to find Plappert guilty in the death of Simon Roark.
Through testimony, Stormer said she could reasonably conclude that Plappert hates cats and did put a plate of cat food, laced with antifreeze, on his back porch in an attempt to kill the cats. Antifreeze was found in a sealed and unsealed container at Plappert's residence.
Plappert's mother, Beverly Plappert, said she hasn't seen her son in years but said he was raised with animals, including cats and dogs. She said it is a sad situation and that she sympathizes with the families who lost a pet. References« Back to Search Results
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