The Free Lance-Star: Caroline woman fears her cats being killed:
Karen “Micky” Mikkelsen had eight pet cats that kept her company through her multiple transplant surgeries over the past year.
But Mikkelsen became suspicious when her beloved cats started showing up dead on the side of the road in front of her house.
Since she moved into her Caroline County home, just south of New Post, Mikkelsen has lost five cats.
A veterinarian’s report and a Caroline animal control investigation shows that at least two of the cats weren’t hit by cars; they were cut vertically along their abdomens and gutted.
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Mikkelsen, who rents a home on 32 acres in the county, said that when her first cat died three years ago, she didn’t suspect foul play. But after four died since Thanksgiving, she recruited a friend to help figure out what was going on.
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According to the Hartwood Animal Hospital report, the two most recently killed cats, Andy and Momma Kitty, were gutted.
“This is obviously not a case of being hit by a car or killed by another animal, for the bodies are unremarkable except for the incision line,” the report, dated Jan. 8, says.
There were no broken bones or evidence of gunshot wounds, according to the report.
Caroline Animal Control Deputy Assistant Officer J. Heffler said the office began an investigation after a call last week alerting them to the deaths.
“We canvassed the area, but nobody had seen anything particular,” Heffler said.
The officer said they have asked neighbors to let them know if there is suspicious activity, but right now, “there’s no proof to tie it to anybody.”
While no charges have been filed in the case, according to Virginia code, if someone is found to have tortured and killed the cats, he could be charged with a class 6 felony and serve up to five years in prison.
Heffler said all they can hope for is that it doesn’t happen again.
“Hopefully this is a one-time incident,” she said.
Yeah, one-time incident until you find someone’s body in the weirdo’s freezer.
Bartz said Shadow Cat Advocates will be offering a reward for information connected to the cats’ deaths.
Mikkelsen said she will be keeping her remaining cats in the house until she can build another enclosure for them on her property.