** WARNING: There is a graphic photo of the cat at the end of this post **
MISSOURI -- More details emerged Monday about a Branson man who killed a cat and then posted a video of the killing on social media.
Kyle Wayne Williams, 18, is in the custody of Taney County Jail in lieu of $15,000 bond, facing a class E felony charge of animal abuse and an unclassified felony charge of armed criminal action.
Update: Jordan Michael Derek Hall (Jordan Hall), 19, has also been charged.
According to a probable cause statement from the Branson Police Department, which was used for filing charges, Williams killed the cat by dragging it behind a vehicle.
The court document states that Williams tied a rope around the neck of the cat, which appeared to be healthy at the time, and to the bumper of a vehicle.
Williams then drove the vehicle, according to the statement, while unknown friends filmed the cat running behind the vehicle “until it couldn’t run anymore.”
According to the statement, the cat died behind the vehicle while the individuals continued riding around and laughing with the dead cat still being dragged behind the vehicle.
The document states that a review of the video shows the cat was healthy and scared at the beginning of the video.
Statements were made on the video that the incident will be funny. There is also laughing in the video.
According to social media posts shared by readers with the Branson Tri-Lakes News, the video was posted to a Facebook group, but was taken down shortly thereafter.
Images shared with the newspaper show Williams posting an image of himself with the dead animal, along with the caption “Try to guess how I killed my cat, bet you can’t.”
A review of the video by the Branson Tri-Lakes News shows that the cat was dragged for nearly five minutes. Individuals in the video can be heard laughing at various points throughout.
On two occasions, the vehicle stops, but it begins dragging the cat again when it is determined the cat is not dead yet. At one point, one of the individuals in the vehicle states, “Keep going. Don’t stop. He’s almost dead.”
Taney County Prosecutor Jeff Merrell stated in an email the case is still being investigated and he would not rule out the possibility of more people being charged.
(Branson Tri Lakes News - June 5, 2017)
Newer:
- Missouri: Internet sleuths tipped off police about accused kitten torture killers
- Missouri: Torture and dragging death of a kitten by Jordan Hall and Kyle Williams sparks nationwide outrage
- Missouri: Kyle Williams, 18, and Jordan Hall, 19, are jailed for four years after posting a video of themselves laughing while killing a kitten by dragging it behind their car
