Bench warrant issued for alleged serial cat killer in California
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A man whom officials suspect of killing up to 20 cats in a Southern California neighborhood was a no-show during his arraignment hearing this week and is now considered at-large.
Alejandro Oliveros Acosta, 46, was arrested April 23 and charged with two felony counts of cruelty to animals, one felony count of grand theft of a companion animal and one misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.
Acosta, a Santa Ana resident, had been free on $40,0000 bond and was set to appear in court on May 21 but did not appear for the hearing, Kimberly Edds, a spokesperson for the prosecutor's office, confirmed to USA TODAY.
The charges stem from a string of cases in the nearby cities of Santa Ana and Westminster, including one involving a woman's stolen cat, Edds said. The cases also involve a police investigation into reports of nearly two dozen dead and severely injured cats being found in the vicinity of where Acosta lived.
The cities are about 10 miles apart.
A stolen Bengal Lynx cat named Clubber
Investigators looking into the stolen cats reported a male Bengal Lynx named Clubber was taken on March 21 from outside a home in the Westminster neighborhood.
"There is video of him, with what appears to be cat food, and he is seen luring the cat to him and taking it," Edds said about Acosta.
According to Edds, the cat was returned to the owner about one week later. Additional details about the case were not provided, but KTLA-TV reported that police received a tip that the 10-month-old cat was found safe at a Santa Ana home and returned to its owner.
Alleged serial cat killer on the run
The second case, under investigation by the Santa Ana Police Department, involved reports of dead and injured cats, officials said they believe Acosta is responsible for.
"Between November and April, police investigated seven different reports of dead or severely injured cats in the vicinity of where (Acosta) lived," Edds said.
In late April, investigators identified Acosta as a suspect in both cases, and following an interview with him at the Santa Ana police station, they found probable cause to arrest him, Edds said.
Police arrested Acosta on April 24, and shortly after the arrest, officials said he posted a $40,000 bond.
When Acosta failed to appear for arraignment, Superior Court Judge Stephen J. McGreevy issued a bench warrant for his arrest and raised his bond to $50,000, Santa Ana police Officer Natalie Garcia told USA TODAY.
Officials told USA TODAY that Acosta remains at large as of May 22.
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Police seek more information about Alejandro Acosta
It was not immediately known whether Acosta had obtained legal counsel as of May 22.
The cases remain under investigation, police and prosecutors said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Santa Ana police at 714-245-8049 or Westminster police at
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.
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