Kitten stabbed during ritual Downey, CA (US) Date: Jan 1, 2005 Disposition: Convicted Abusers/Suspects: Miguel Capistran Flores Dimas Martinez Sanchez Camarino Reyes

Case ID: 3548 Classification: Stabbing Animal: cat View more cases in CA (US) « Back to Search Results Login to Watch this Case

Police discovered three men, one wearing a black, hooded cloak and a black kitten in a bag with its legs tied together and a puncture wound in its hip at about 1 a.m. on New Years day, at the Downey Cemetery. A knife, candles, a wax skull, daggers, four roosters in boxes. Painted in red on a nearby animal skin were the words "Beelzebub Jefe Supremo.'

The three men found with the cat were arrested, according to the Southeast Area Animal Control Authority.

Authorities are trying to find a home for the kitten they call Nuevo.

Downey Police Officer Chris Maher approached the men and saw a bag hanging from a tree. When he looked in the bag, he found Nuevo, whose front and back legs were tied up, according to SEAACA Cpl. Charles Miller.

The men, one of whom was wearing a black, hooded cloak, told the officer they planned to kill the feline, according to a written statement from SEAACA.

On Tuesday, the three men pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty.

Miguel Capistran Flores, 26, of Los Angeles and Dimas Martinez Sanchez, 33, of Los Angeles were sentenced to one year in jail, according to Miller.

Camarino Reyes, 57, of Lynwood was sentenced to 90 days in jail and three years' probation, according to Miller.

"Usually, when you see these types of incidents, it's usually teenagers,' he said. "But these were adults. To me, I guess that makes this even more alarming. I can't say enough how happy we were with the sentence.'

For having almost been sacrificed, Nuevo on Thursday was in good spirits at the SEAACA headquarters in Downey.

The long, lean kitten with white back paws snuggled with the pound's employees and burrowed through plants in the facility's visiting area.

He had what appeared to be rope burns on his legs and a small scar on his hip, but he did not seem to be in pain.

"You'd think after something like that, he'd be a little scared,' Miller said. "But he's just looking for some affection.'

References

Whittier Daily News - Jan 6, 2005

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