A doorbell surveillance camera recorded the moments after a beloved pet was killed, and now investigators in Central California fear a serial cat killer may be on the loose after two more cats were found dead in the same neighborhood, according to KCRA-TV.
The deaths were reported in and around the Riverview Mobile Home Park in the San Joaquin Valley town of Hughson, where surveillance video captured a masked suspect in connection with at least one of the incidents.
Here’s what to know about the case.
One cat shot, then taken, owner says
One of the cats, a 9-year-old named L, was reportedly shot during the night of Sunday, Feb. 8, and the incident was discovered the following day, according to KCRA-TV.
L’s owner, who asked to remain anonymous out of fear, told KCRA her cat was well known and loved throughout the neighborhood.
“They’re just evil. And there’s no other way to describe it,” she told KCRA-TV. “She was just the neighborhood cat that everybody loved. And I don’t know who did this, but I’m going to find out who did it.”
Doorbell video captured moments after the shooting shows a person walking up to the cat’s body, placing it into a plastic bag, and walking away, according to KCRA-TV.
“I have nothing. I can’t bury her. I can’t do anything,” the owner said. “She just was taken.”
Surveillance video shows masked suspect
According to KCRA-TV, surveillance footage shows a suspect wearing a face covering, shorts, black socks and black flip-flops. In one clip, the person is seen approaching the driveway where the cat was last seen before being shot.
In another video taken approximately 13 minutes later, the suspect is seen returning to the scene, picking up the cat’s body and placing it into a plastic bag before leaving the area, KCRA reported.
The sheriff’s office confirmed to KCRA that investigators are reviewing surveillance footage and witness statements as part of an ongoing investigation.
Two more cats found dead nearby
KCRA-TV reported that another resident in the neighborhood later found his own cat dead in his backyard, along with a second dead cat near his back porch.
“We didn’t know what to think because they were just dead,” the resident told KCRA-TV. “I didn’t want to inspect it. But now we know, now it all ties together.”
Authorities have not confirmed how the other two cats died, and investigators said the motive behind the incidents remains unclear, according to KCRA.
Neighbors fear for safety
Residents told KCRA-TV that fear is spreading through the community, with concerns extending beyond pets to personal safety.
“We’re all terrified,” L’s owner said. “All of my neighbors are scared. We have children walking down the street from school. We have people walking around at night, walking their dogs at night. This is terrifying.”
The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to KCRA-TV that the cases remain under investigation and that deputies are continuing to gather evidence.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Suspected serial pet killer feared in California after 3 cats dead
Reporting by James Ward, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
