Wellston man, Maurice Williams, 23, hangs mother's house cat with chain, police say

MISSOURI -- A Wellston man was charged Wednesday with hanging his mother's pet cat in July.

Maurice Williams, 23, of the 6400 block of Wells Avenue, was charged with a felony count of animal abuse.

During an argument with his mother on July 16 at home, Williams wrapped a chain around her cat's neck and tossed the feline over his mother's backyard fence, strangling it, police say. 

Police say Williams left the house before animal control officers arrived.

Williams was arrested months later, police said, and told police he remembered arguing with his mother but couldn't recall killing the cat. He also said he couldn't remember anything from the rest of that day and awoke the next morning at his brother's house.

Police said in court records that Williams did remember after his brother asked him why he killed the cat.

Williams was ordered held on a $15,000 bail.

(St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Dec 30, 2015)