New York: Darren Annovi, 43, accused of putting his cat in the oven and burning it to death

NEW YORK -- A cat in an oven was determined to be the cause of a fire that took place yesterday night in the city.

Around 9:08 p.m., the City of Batavia Fire Department responded to a call at 400 East Main St., which is the Batavia Housing Authority, for a fire alarm activation.

Upon arriving at the scene, firefighters entered the apartment of Darren Annovi, 43, which, according to a press release was filled with “light smoke.”

According to Batavia City Police Detective Eric Hill, he “believes” the cat was alive when it went into the oven. Hill added there is nothing in Annovi’s past to suggest he has had issues with animal cruelty before.

Hill also said he could not comment on a possible motive for the act.

Annovi was arrested at the apartment and charged with aggravated cruelty to animals. He was arraigned in Batavia City Court and held without bail.

He was remanded to the Genesee County Jail and is scheduled to reappear at 10 a.m. on July 13 in city court.

City police are working with the Batavia Housing Authority as it moves forward with its investigation.

Rich Pearson, a member of a local animal shelter, attended the court hearing and was outraged at the feline's fate.

"We are horrified by the fact that an animal died this way," Pearson told ABC station WHAM-TV. "And personally I am also horrified by the fact that this individual put at risk the lives of many other people in the apartment building where he lives."

(Daily news online - July 13, 2016)