Latest news with #KristoferBlankenship
New York Post
02-05-2025
- New York Post
Sickos film live opossum they set on fire — while laughing with delight: ‘One of the most heinous cases'
A group of sickos filmed themselves lighting a helpless opossum on fire and then giggling with delight as it burned — with cops teasing an update Friday after being flooded with tips. The distressing video shows them dousing the terrified creature with fuel and lighting it on fire as it's pinned against a fence in Charlotte, North Carolina. They scream and laugh as the opossum, engulfed in flames, writhes in pain for over a minute before keeling over, seemingly dead, the video shows. Advertisement 4 A video of a opossum being set on fire while a group of people watched it burn has gone viral. WCNC 4 The opossum writhed in pain for over a minute before keeling over, seemingly dead. WCNC 'It was one of the most heinous cases we've heard of recently,' Kevin Chambers from Animal Wellness Action told WCNC while offering a $5,000 reward. Advertisement Authorities have scheduled an update on the case for 1:30 p.m. Friday, having earlier said the disturbing attack could lead to felony charges. They have yet to confirm the poor opossum died. The horrific video went viral locally after being posted last week on Facebook, with local law enforcement agencies saying they were swamped with tips — saying they no longer needed more and had enough 'to move forward.' 4 The animal was doused with fuel and and lit on fire while pinned against a fence in Charlotte, North Carolina. WCNC Advertisement 4 According to Kristofer Blankenship, a senior officer with the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission, the incident is 'under investigation, but this is looking like it's going to be a felony matter of animal cruelty.' WCNC At least three people appear to be involved in the torture, authorities said. 'It's under investigation, but this is looking like it's going to be a felony matter of animal cruelty,' Kristofer Blankenship, a senior officer with the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission, told WCNC.
Daily Mail
01-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Evil scumbags filmed themselves dousing cute wild animal with fuel then setting it alight
Heartless North Carolina men recorded as they set a vulnerable opossum ablaze in a gut-wrenching act of animal cruelty they proudly blasted online. The disturbing clip that circulated on Facebook last week showed the live animal being doused with fuel before the culprits set it on fire - seemingly amused with what they have done. After sharing the hard-to-watch footage, horrified viewers began reporting the incident to agencies including the FBI and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. The North Carolina Wildlife Commission has launched an investigation into the April 24 video that quickly caught traction for all the wrong reasons. 'Thank you to everybody who has contacted Crime Stoppers and sent tips about the animal cruelty incident involving the possum on Facebook,' Charlotte Crime Stoppers wrote on X. 'At this point, we have enough information to move forward, we don't need any more tips. Thank you again for your support.' Although nothing has been filed yet, authorities say this will likely result in felony charges against the animal abusers. 'It's under investigation, but this is looking like it's going to be a felony matter of animal cruelty, Kristofer Blankenship, a senior officer with the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission, told WCNC. In the state, animal cruelty is a Class H felony. Class H felonies have a maximum potential sentence of 39 months in prison. Investigators believe at least three people were involved. Their names have not been released. Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy declared they will give a $5,000 reward to anyone that has information that will lead to an arrest and charges against those involved, according to FOX 8. 'This isn't just animal cruelty — it's a public safety issue,' the animal groups told the outlet. Although the original video appears to have been taken down from Facebook, a Charlotte man shared an alarming image of the opossum's charred carcass two days after it was uploaded. He seemingly captioned the post with fake funeral details. It is unconfirmed if he is connected to the incident or not. He also shared several statements referring to the opossum situation, calling out his followers for reporting the content. 'Damn The possum Brought All The Police A** Mfs Out I Thought Yall Don't Snitch,' he wrote. Another man from Charlotte has also been publicly discussing the investigation. In a series of posts, he wrote: 'They wanna see me with a life sentence over a damn opossum. 'The whole internet in a frenzy over a possum this world bout crazy ash. 'And guess what the police did when they pull up and left?? THEY LEFT THE DAMN POSSUM.' He also shared a video of the dead animal after it was set on fire, writing 'medium rare come get you some.' The two men are connected, as they have tagged and interacted with each other on social media.
