WEATHERFORD, TEXAS: An employee at a Texas animal shelter has been blamed for torturing and killing kittens at his job and is suspected to be associated with the recent increase in kitten deaths. According to the authorities, Gabriel Caswell, 21, was apprehended last month after he was captured on surveillance video killing kittens at the Weatherford Animal Shelter.
This event took place during an ongoing investigation into an unexplained increase in kitten deaths at the shelter since June, the City of Weatherford said in a press release. Initially the deaths were considered to be disease-related but testing results on multiple specimens found no sign of disease.
More HVAC systems were then installed by the staff members and also ensured proper cleaning procedures. They reviewed the chemicals in all cleaning products, established new policies and closely tracked every missing or deceased animal.
Who is Gabriel Caswell?
According to Fox News, a staff member at the animal shelter dialed the authorities on July 14, after the accused was seen torturing a kitten to the point where it was unlikely to survive. Caswell was confronted by staff members but he fled the area before the officers arrived.
The authorities determined Caswell had committed a crime after they reviewed a video footage of the incident. Detectives began investigating and obtained a warrant for Caswell's arrest. He was arrested within a few hours for cruelty to animals but was later released from jail.
Gabriel Caswell was arrested again the following day
On July 28, detectives reviewed additional video footage and obtained another warrant for Caswell for cruelty to animals. He was arrested again the following day. Other video footage is still being reviewed for other possible incidents. The officials are unaware as of now about how many animal deaths Caswell may be held accountable for.
"Our shelter staff and volunteers take great pride in the love and care provided to the animals that visit our shelter," the city said in its press release.
It continued, "For something like this to happen is unfathomable, and we are heartbroken by the harm caused. This case is still being investigated, and the shelter is partnering with the police department as the city continues to seek justice for all of Caswell’s actions."
Texas woman arrested for animal cruelty after 12 horses and 24 dogs found dead at her home
Meaww previously reported that a 22-year-old Texas woman was detained on felony animal cruelty charges following the discovery of 24 dogs and 12 horses dead on her property on Friday, August 5. According to the Collin County website, Rachel Sword, 22, of Westminster, Texas, is accused of abusing livestock animals as well as third-degree felonies for cruelty to non-livestock animals.
Sword resides on the property, which her grandparents own according to Fox 4, which cited the arrest warrant affidavit. Her grandparents told police that they have difficulty caring for their animals as they were aging and thought Sword was doing so.
The affidavit reportedly said, "Investigators located several deceased horses on the property. The decay on the horses ranged from completely skeletonized to partially skeletonized with skin and fur, generally indicating the deaths were not recent."
According to reports, some of the dogs were discovered dead in cages inside the RV Sword was residing in, while others were discovered in areas with no shade.
