'Serial Cat Killer' Sparks Warning for California Pet Owners
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
California prosecutors have asked the court to increase the bail of a man accused of killing multiple cats due to the "danger" he poses to public safety after he didn't show up for his arraignment earlier this week.
Alejandro Oliveros Acosta, a 46-year-old Santa Ana resident, is accused of luring cats with cat food, kidnapping them and stomping and beating them to death, the Orange County district attorney's office said in a Tuesday press release.
Why It Matters
Oliveros Acosta is facing two counts of felony animal cruelty, one felony count of theft of a companion animal, a Bengal Lynx, and one misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance.
Santa Ana Animal Control began receiving reports of injured and dead cats near the area of W. Wilshire Avenue and S. Clara Street in November 2024. Between November and April, animal control received seven reports that included felines who were suffering from broken backs and bloody faces.
What To Know
Oliveros Acosta was arrested by the Santa Ana Police Department and the Westminster Police Department on April 24. He was released after posting the $40,000 statutory bail ($20,000 separately on the Westminster and Santa Ana cases) before the police department finished its investigation and referred the case to the Orange County district attorney's office's animal abuse prosecutor.
The district attorney's office called for Oliveros Acosta's bail to be increased to $100,000.
When Oliveros Acosta didn't show up for his arraignment, Superior Court Judge Stephen J. McGreevy issued a bench warrant for his arrest and raised his bond to $50,000, USA Today reported.
The Santa Ana Police Department wrote last month on Facebook that Oliveros Acosta was positively identified by several victims and witnesses as the suspect responsible for the alleged animal cruelty. Officials called the inquiry a "serial cat killer investigation."
Detectives then obtained a search warrant for Oliveros Acosta's residence and collected evidence related to the case.
The 46-year-old is also accused of having methamphetamine on him when he was booked into jail, prosecutors said.
What People Are Saying
Santa Ana Police Department wrote on Facebook last month: "We recognize the strong emotions this case has generated and ask the public to please allow the judicial process to take its course."
Eva Corlew, whose Bengal Lynx cat Clubber went missing in November and was later returned, told KCAL News in March: "I feel a little scared that this person is out there stealing multiple cats, not just mine, and doing god knows what with them."
What Happens Next
According to The Times, authorities have said Oliveros Acosta's whereabouts are unknown.
Oliveros Acosta is facing a maximum sentence of four years and four months if convicted on the felony charges and an additional year if convicted on the misdemeanor charge. Prosecutors said additional evidence will be reviewed to determine whether additional criminal charges can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact Santa Ana Police Investigative Specialist Sophia Guzman at 714-245-8416 or SGuzman@santa-ana.org.
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