Latest news with #AlejandroOliverosAcosta
Newsweek
23-05-2025
- Newsweek
'Serial Cat Killer' Sparks Warning for California Pet Owners
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. 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@ Do you have a story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@
Times
22-05-2025
- Times
Hide your pets, owners told — ‘cat serial killer' is on the loose
Pet owners in southern California have been warned to keep their animals close while the authorities search for a suspected cat serial killer who failed to turn up to a court appearance while out on bail. Alejandro Oliveros Acosta, 46, was arrested last month on charges of felony animal cruelty, theft of a companion animal and methamphetamine possession in connection with the attacks and killings of up to 20 cats in the cities of Santa Ana and Westminster, 35 miles south of Los Angeles. His release from jail on bail only a day after his arrest drew public outrage due to the violent nature of the allegations against him. A warrant for Acosta's arrest was reissued after he missed an arraignment hearing on Wednesday and
CBS News
21-05-2025
- CBS News
Santa Ana alleged serial cat killer is a court no-show, warrant issued for his arrest
The Santa Ana man charged with felony animal cruelty for luring neighborhood cats to harm and kill them did not show up for his Wednesday scheduled court appearance, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. Alejandro Oliveros Acosta, 46, faces a maximum sentence of four years and four months in prison if convicted of two counts of felony animal cruelty and one felony count of theft of a companion animal. He also faces a misdemeanor charge for methamphetamine possession and was scheduled to be arraigned at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana on Wednesday. Santa Ana Animal Control began receiving reports of dead and injured cats in November 2024, and reports of cruelty to cats continued in Westminster and Santa Ana neighborhoods through April 2025. Seven reports of dead and injured cats were reported over six months in 2024, including animals suffering from broken backs and bloody faces, all in the area of W. Wilshire Avenue and S. Clara Street. In March, a Westminster woman reported her Bengal Lynx cat missing. Her home surveillance video showed a man luring the cat with what appeared to be a can of food before grabbing it and driving off in a white Toyota Tacoma pickup truck. The cat was returned to its owner following social media outcry, and the suspect remained unidentified. On April 3, a Santa Ana man allegedly saw his neighbor, later identified as Oliveros Acosta, pick up a cat and slam it to the ground. Santa Ana Animal Control responded and took the dead cat away, prosecutors said. Two days later, animal control responded to reports of a sick cat that was not moving. According to prosecutors, surveillance video showed a man in a white Toyota Tacoma truck pick up what appeared to be a cat out of the truck's bed, drop it on the ground and stomp on it. The man was later identified as Oliveros Acosta, prosecutors said. Oliveros Acosta was arrested by both Santa Ana and Westminster police on April 24. He posted bail and was released. Bail for Oliveros Acosta has been set to $50,000. The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact the Santa Ana and Westminster police departments.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Accused ‘serial cat killer' charged in violent crime spree
A Santa Ana man who authorities said lured cats with food in order to violently beat them to death has been charged with animal cruelty and stealing a family's pet. Alejandro Oliveros Acosta, 46, was charged by the Orange County District Attorney's Office this week on two counts of felony animal cruelty, one felony count of theft of a companion animal, and one misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance. He's accused of killing or injuring several cats in the Santa Ana area since November 2024, including an expensive Bengal Lynx cat that was taken from its home in Westminster. The Santa Ana Police Department has documented seven instances of cats being injured or killed in the area West Wilshire Avenue and South Clara Street, including those that suffered broke backs or bloody faces,. In March, a surveillance video was released that showed a man luring the Bengal Lynx from its home using a can of food. The cat, Clubber, was eventually returned to the home after the video was made public, but the suspect's identity remained unknown. Weeks later, a Santa Ana man said he saw his neighbor, Oliveros Acosta, pick up a cat over his head and slam it to the ground. The man's wife confirmed that the cat had been killed, and they called Santa Ana Animal Control to report the incident. Two days later, Animal Control was called for a report of a sick cat that had been dropped from the bed of a white Toyota Tacoma pickup — the same type of vehicle seen in the Westminster incident. The video showed the suspect, later identified as Acosta, stomping on the cat with his foot. Oliveros Acosta was arrested by officers from Santa Ana and the Westminster police department on April 24 and was released after posting a $40,000 bail. His release sparked widespread public outcry, leading to an 'unruly' vigil by concerned residents that was held outside the suspect's home. The Orange County District Attorney's Office said he was released before the police departments completed their investigations and presented the case for consideration. Prosecutors have since asked for his bail to be increased to $100,000 due to the 'danger Oliveros Acosta poses to public safety.' The D.A.'s Office did not state if their request had been granted by the judge assigned to the case. The case remains under investigation by the two local police departments, and the D.A.'s Office says it is continuing to evaluate the evidence to determine if additional charges are warranted. If convicted as charged, he could face a maximum of four years and four months for the animal cruelty-related charges, with an additional year of jail time for the misdemeanor drug charge, which was added after he was found with methamphetamine on his person at the time of the arrest. Oliveros Acosta is due in court in Santa Ana on Wednesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
20-05-2025
- CBS News
Santa Ana alleged serial cat killer charged with animal cruelty
A Santa Ana man who allegedly lured, harmed and killed neighborhood cats has been charged with animal cruelty. Alejandro Oliveros Acosta was charged with two counts of animal cruelty and a count of grand theft of a pet, all felonies. He was also charged with a misdemeanor count of possession of methamphetamine, according to the criminal complaint. Over March and April, word spread among neighbors in Westminster and Santa Ana about a man luring cats away from their homes. Home-surveillance footage of incidents was shared on social media. After receiving multiple reports of neighborhood cat abuse and deaths over several weeks, a police investigation led to Acosta as the suspect. Detectives issued a search warrant at the home of the 45-year-old and found evidence of dozens of dead cats, police said. Acosta is also suspected of abducting a Bengal Lynx cat from its Westminster home in March, police said. The 10-month-old cat named Clubber was returned to its owner after she posted online about it. Eva Corlew said her home security cameras captured a man grabbing Clubber and carrying it into a white truck. Corlew said after she shared her story in a neighborhood chatroom, she learned that similar incidents happened to people in Santa Ana. Acosta was arrested and booked at the Santa Ana jail in late April, but posted bail and was released. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday.
