Grosse Ile High School lacrosse team captain Tanner Coolsaet, 18, and his teammate Michael Roth, 17, appeared in court on Monday as they were charged with a count each of killing and torturing an animal and conspiracy to kill and torture an animal.
Two high school lacrosse players face up to eight years in prison for torturing and murdering a guinea pig in a bizarre pre-game ritual killing.
Grosse Ile High School lacrosse team captain Tanner Coolsaet, 18, and his teammate Michael Roth, 17, appeared in court on Monday as they were charged with a count each of killing and torturing an animal and conspiracy to kill and torture an animal.
Both charges are felonies that carry a prison term of up to four years.
In court on Monday, prosecutors described how the two Michigan teens planned and carried out the ritual killing.
Before a big game on April 30, one of the two young men sent out a text message to their other lacrosse teammates, ordering them to meet before the game around 11:30am and bring $1 to contribute to the cost of the guinea pig.
Coolsaet purchased the guinea pig named Tina from a nearby pet store, and brought the animal out during the meeting.
He was supposed to cut the pig's throat but backed out at the last minute when the animal started to scream.
From there, the team decided to let the guinea pig 'decide its own fate' by either walking to one end of the table where it would be spared, or the other end where it would be killed.
Unfortunately, the little animal wandered to the wrong side of the table and Roth used a small souvenir baseball bat to bash in the pig's head.
When that didn't kill the animal, a third teammate stepped up and stabbed the guinea pig "to put it out of its misery".
Not at all horrified by what they'd just done, some of the team members smeared the guinea pig's blood over their faces.
When rumors of the killing started spreading the next month, police began their investigation and determined Coolsaet and Roth were the two most involved with the killing.
The third student, who ultimately killed the guinea pig by stabbing it, has not been charged in the killing and prosecutors say they have not decided whether to press charges against the other young man.
Following reports of the ritual killing, the high school ended lacrosse season early.
They are due back in court on July 26 for a probably cause hearing and on August 2 for preliminary examinations.
While on bail, the boys have been barred from consuming alcohol or drugs and can not by an animal or pet. They must also be at home from 11:30pm to 6am.
'The alleged facts in this case illustrate much more than a youthful prank or a pre-game antic,' Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said of the attack. 'We must take these cases seriously.'
(Daily Mail - July 19, 2016)
