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

** WARNING: There is a graphic photo of the cat at the end of this post **

MISSOURI -- Two Missouri men who sparked outrage by tying a kitten to a car's bumper and dragging it to its death were sentenced Friday to prison.

Kyle Williams, 18, also from Branson, was sentenced to four years for animal abuse and three years for armed criminal action, to be served consecutively after posting footage of his cat's death to Facebook.

Jordan Hall, 19, of Branson was also sentenced to four years behind bars for animal abuse.

 

 

According to the Taney County, Missouri prosecutor's office, Williams will also serve five years for 'possession of a weapon in a county jail, relating to the sharpening of a spork into a 'shank'.'

The two had plead guilty to animal abuse charges, after the horrifying incident. 
It started last June when, according to court documents, a video was posted to a private Facebook group.

'Keep going. Don't stop. He's almost dead.'
The video shows a gold Jeep accelerating while people laugh and watch the kitten's plight, with one person filming the incident from the trunk.

The kitten's tiny legs couldn't keep up with the SUV, and after being dragged for several laps, the little animal lay dead on the asphalt.

"Dude, kill his ass," one person says in the video after the cat appears to lose strength and start bleeding.

At one point, the vehicle stops, and the people behind the camera discuss the "semi-alive" kitten's vitality and whether to "slam (the cat) into the ground, kill him."

"Should we put him out of his misery?" one person asks.

In response, the vehicle speeds up and the laughs start again.

Later in the video, the SUV stops and starts once more. A person in the trunk can be seen jerking on the rope so the kitten goes airborne and bounces off the pavement.

The kitten was in bad shape at the end of the video. Before the camera cuts off, one person continues jerking the rope to move the dying cat's head up and down like a macabre marionette.

"Shake your head for me if you're dead," the person says.

The video showing the torture death of the cat is nearly five minutes long.

According to the Kansas City Star, members of the group Cellulites: Salvation 'were furious after he allegedly posted a photo of himself next to the tortured, bloodied kitten, one eye popped out of its head, the newspaper reported.

The caption allegedly read, 'Try to guess how I killed my cat, bet you can't.'

Members of the private group then figured out who Williams was through his social media activity, and contacted police. 

'He posted it in the wrong group,' one group member wrote. 'Animal cruelty is not okay.'

 

 

 

After the sentencing, Taney County prosecutor, Jeff Merell thanked the people who reported the crime, posting on Facebook.

He said: 'We are satisfied with the sentences handed down today by the Judge for this senseless act of depravity against a helpless kitten. We appreciate the help of good Samaritans in our digital community in reporting this crime as it might have gone unpunished without their assistance.'

 

(Daily Mail - March 4, 2018)

Earlier:

• Missouri: Court documents reveal horrific torture death of cat by accused killer, 18-year-old Kyle Williams (and Jordan Hall, 19)
• 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

Georgia: Emory Samples, 70, accused of dragging a dog behind his truck then cutting him loose and abandoning it to die in the woods

GEORGIA -- Deputies with Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office have arrested a 70-year-old man accused of dragging a dog behind his truck in the northern end of the county.

According to Cpl. Doug Rainwater, spokesman for the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, Emory Junior Samples was arrested for felony cruelty to animals around 1:15 p.m. Monday after witnesses reported a dog running and being pulled behind an older Ford truck on Settingdown Road.

Rainwater said that witnesses reported the vehicles license plate number, and deputies quickly found the suspected vehicle off of Martin Road.

He said that the dog was found abandoned in the woods close to Settingdown Road and required immediate medical attention.

Samples had to have pulled over, cut the dog loose and then dumped him in the woods to die before driving off.

Rainwater said that deputies found blood in the bed of Samples truck.

Samples was arrested and taken to the Forsyth County Detention Center, and no bond has been set yet.

(Forsyth News - February 5, 2018)

West Virginia: Jerry Hommey III arrested and charged with animal cruelty after being caught on camera beating dog

WEST VIRGINIA -- A Beckley man has been arrested and charged with animal cruelty.

According to the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office, Jerry Hommey III, 25 of Beckley was charged with animal cruelty after someone showed a video to police of the incident.

 The video shows Hommey kicking the dog, dragging it by the neck, being picked up and thrown to the ground and dragged some more before it was hooked to a chain. All of it was caught on video.

After investigating, a warrant was obtained charging Hommey. It was also discovered Hommey had other warrants on file for various crimes. Sgt. R.L. Bircham arrested and served Hommey with warrants.

Hommey is being held in the Southern Regional Bail under a 5,000.00 dollar bond

Raleigh County Animal Control took custody of the dog for safekeeping.

VIDEO RECORDED OF ABUSE:

(WOAY - Dec 16, 2017)

New York: While working at a boarding and grooming business Alexis Malone was caught on camera abusing dogs. She's now been charged with animal cruelty

NEW YORK -- An employee at a Gates dog daycare and boarding facility is facing charges of animal cruelty for the mistreatment and abuse of dogs.

On Tuesday, the Humane Law Enforcement Department at Lollypop Farm received a security video showing Dog E. Woggy’s West's daycare and boarding facility’s kennel areas.

In the video, 25-year-old Alexis Malone, of Churchville, can be seen striking a dog and dragging dogs by the neck and collar, according to Lollypop.

Upon further investigation, it was revealed that Malone had been abusing pets in the facility’s care.

Malone is no longer employed by Dog E. Woggy’s West.

 

 

Malone had been ordered to appear in Gates Town Court on Dec. 12 to face three charges of torturing and injuring animals.

In a Facebook statement from the owner and management at Dog E. Woggy's West, they said they have "followed through in investigating and addressing any concerns regarding any suspected employee misconduct or mistreatment of our clients family members at DEW West. Over the last several weeks, multiple agencies have worked together to look deeply into video surveillance the very moment an issue was brought to our attention. It seems we can pinpoint where it started and when it ended.

"Said employee is no longer employed by DEW West and faces animal cruelty counts in Monroe County. Any mistreatment (even the grabbing of collars) of any pet is not OK. IT IS NOT OK. I assure you steps are being taken to make sure this does not happen in any other establishment."

The business added that additional cameras are now in place.

 

(Rochester First - Nov 29, 2017)

Spain: Man accused of dragging dog behind his vehicle released by police

SPAIN -- The man arrested by the Guardia Civil for alleged animal abuse for dragging a puppy behind his vehicle for 10km (more than six miles) has been found innocent and acquitted.

When officers stopped the Suzuki all-terrain vehicle on the A-8201 near Jimena de la Frontera in the province of Cadiz in Andalucia earlier this month they found a German Shepherd puppy tied by its hind legs to the tow hitch.

As the Euro Weekly News reported at the time the driver of the vehicle told officers that he was not aware that the dog was tied to the tow ball. He claimed that someone had done it ‘as a joke’ after celebrating a Halloween night party.

And when he drove off in the morning he wasn’t aware of it until he was stopped by the Guardia Civil officers more than 10 kilometres down the road.

The claims of Francisco Quirós Ocala, better known in the municipality as 'Pacurro', appear to have been true.

It is believed that the already dead puppy was tied to his vehicle by ‘persons unknown’.

Police investigations continue to find the culprit.

(Euro Weekly News - November 9, 2017)

Earlier:

• Spain: Puppy dies after being dragged more than six miles along road tied to tow hitch

Spain: Puppy dies after being dragged more than six miles along road tied to tow hitch

SPAIN -- A man has been arrested by Guardia Civil officers from Jimena de la Frontera, Cadiz for animal abuse  after allegedly dragging a dog behind his vehicle on a road.

When officers stopped  the Suzuki all-terrain vehicle on the  A-8201 in Andalucia they found a German Shepherd puppy tied by its hind legs to the tow ball.

The young dog died from the injuries it sustained after being dragged for several kilometres.

The driver of the vehicle claimed to officers that he was not aware that the dog was tied to the tow hitch.

He claims that  someone had done it ‘as a joke’ after celebrating a Halloween night party.

And when he drove off in the morning he wasn’t aware of it until he was stopped by the Guardia Civil officers more than 10 kilometres down the road.

(Euro Weekly News - November 8, 2017)

Texas: Joseph Booth, 54, charged with animal cruelty; accused of purposely dragging his horse along the road ripping its skin off

TEXAS -- A Killeen man, later identified as Joseph Edward Booth, 54, was arraigned Monday on a charge of cruelty to a livestock animal.

Killeen police received a call May 17 about a horse running behind a trailer on Trimmier Road, and then shortly after received another call regarding a maroon Silverado truck and a bloody horse near Charles Patterson Middle School, according to the affidavit.

While driving south on Trimmier, an officer observed a maroon truck pulling a horse trailer, and entering a driveway on Trimmier, according to the report.

The officer reported he identified the driver as Joe Booth, who advised he needed to restrain his horse, according to the affidavit.

The officer then observed that the horse had large patches of hair removed, a deep cut, missing flesh above his left eye and blood on the horse’s left front side, injuries consistent with being dragged along the ground, according to the report.

The officer spoke with Booth, who said he was pulling his horse behind the truck and horse trailer when he CLAIMS was informed by a person on a motorcycle that his horse had fallen, according to the affidavit.

Oh yes, the whole "I didn't know!" defense.

Two witnesses reported seeing the truck traveling at about 35 to 40 mph, with a horse tied to the back of the trailer being dragged, according to the affidavit.

One of the witnesses reported observing that a motorcyclist had to force the pickup driver to finally stop, according to the report.

The officer said he spoke with a veterinarian who came to treat the horse, who stated the injuries, road rash and lacerations, were consistent with being dragged on a road, according to the report.

Justice of the Peace Bill Cooke set Booth’s bond at $20,000 on Monday.

Apparently Joe Booth has serious anger issues, along with drug arrests.

PREVIOUS ARRESTS:

January 23, 2013
Killeen man threatens driver with gun in road rage incident

A 50-year-old Killeen man upset that someone was slowing him down from getting his horses to the vet has been arrested for deadly conduct. Joseph Booth is accused of waving a handgun at another driver during a road rage incident on Christmas Eve.

A driver of a black Mercedes called police around noon Monday after the incident occurred on Highway 190 near Nolanville.  The driver gave the operator a description of the suspected truck pulling a horse trailer.

Deputies found the truck, and stopped it. The driver, Booth, explained to deputies that he was angry the driver of the Mercedes was driving under the speed limit in the fast lane. After talking to Booth, police searched his vehicle and recovered a .22 caliber revolver, a loaded shotgun, and a controlled substance under four grams.

Booth was transported to the Bell County Jail, but was allowed to call a friend to take care of the horses.


February 21, 2013
The Bell County grand jury returned an indictment against Joseph Edward Booth, 50, of Killeen, on a charge of possession of cocaine, 1 gram or more.

June 3, 2016
Name BOOTH, JOSEPH EDWARD
Global Subject Number 233876
Date of Birth 9/1/1962
Sex MALE
Race BLACK
Height 6'3"
Weight 210 lbs
Address 2801 WOODLANDS DR KILLEEN, TEXAS (STATE) 76549
Offense date: 05/23/2016
Arrest date: 06/3/2016
Total Bond Amount $0.00
Offense:
PC 22.01(a)(1) / ASSAULT CAUSES BODILY INJURY FAMILY MEMBER

(KDH News - June 15, 2017)

Missouri: Torture and dragging death of a kitten by Jordan Hall and Kyle Williams sparks nationwide outrage

** WARNING: There is a graphic photo of the cat at the end of this post **

MISSOURI -- The case of two 18-year-old Branson men accused of dragging a “scared” kitten to death with a Jeep has horrified people across the country.

Jordan Michael Derek Hall and Kyle Wayne Williams were charged this week with animal abuse and armed criminal action. Hall was named as the driver of the vehicle and told police he knew it was “not right,” according to police.

 

 

Williams also allegedly posted online a video of the torture, which took place Thursday. It has since been removed. The video showed people laughing as the cat “tossed and turned” behind the Jeep.

Public anger about the case helped police find Williams, according to the Springfield News-Leader.

Members of a private Facebook group called Cellulites: Salvation were furious after he allegedly posted a photo of himself next to the tortured, bloodied kitten, one eye popped out of its head, the newspaper reported.

The caption allegedly read, “Try to guess how I killed my cat, bet you can’t.”

The News-Leader reports that members of the group across the country were so outraged that some worked hours to track down information about Williams through his social media activities. They even tried to reach his family and friends.

“He posted it in the wrong group,” one group member wrote. “About a hundred of us immediately started reporting him to whoever we could get hold of. Animal cruelty is not okay.”

Tips and phone calls poured into Branson police, city spokeswoman Jennifer Langford told the News-Leader.

Court documents allege Williams tied a rope around the cat’s neck and then to the bumper of the vehicle, according to the Branson Tri-Lakes News.

Someone in the back of the Jeep filmed the cat running behind the vehicle “until it couldn’t run anymore,” the court statement says. The cat continued to be dragged, even after it was dead, while people watched and laughed.

 

 

The News-Leader and Tri-Lakes News reviewed the video of the brutality.

The Tri-Lakes News reports that the cat was dragged for about five minutes. Twice the Jeep stopped but then kept going because the cat wasn’t dead yet.

One person in the Jeep can be heard yelling: “Keep going. Don’t stop. He’s almost dead.”

Williams and Hall are in the Taney County Jail. Authorities say more people could be charged.

(Kansas City Star - June 8, 2017)

Earlier:

• Missouri: Court documents reveal horrific torture death of cat by accused killer, 18-year-old Kyle Williams (and Jordan Hall, 19)
• Missouri: Internet sleuths tipped off police about accused kitten torture killers

Newer:

• 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

Missouri: Internet sleuths tipped off police about accused kitten torture killers

** WARNING: There is a graphic photo of the cat at the end of this post **

MISSOURI -- Members of a private Facebook group were up in arms after a man posted a picture of himself next to a kitten that had been tortured and killed.

Court documents indicate the cat was tied to the back of a Jeep and dragged to its death. A photo circulating online appears to depict Kyle Wayne Williams, 18, mugging for the camera next to the mutilated animal.

Branson police were flooded with phone calls and Facebook tips, city spokeswoman Jennifer Langford told the News-Leader.

"Dispatch received over 100 calls, 10 crime tips submitted through our website, and hundreds of FB messenger submissions," Langford said in an email.

A horde of persistent tipsters from across the country worked together to track down Williams. They documented their work and took credit when they learned Williams had been arrested.

Williams is being held in the Taney County Jail on a $15,000 bond. Court documents dated Monday say he was removed from a hearing "due to behavior and being disruptive."

A second man, Jordan Michael Derek Hall, 19, has since been charged with similar crimes and named as the driver of the car. Hall has been arrested and also is in the Taney County Jail on a $15,000 bond.

In court documents, officers note that a camera was rolling while the cat was tormented and killed.

Online outrage
The online pursuit started after a photo was posted to Facebook appearing to depict Williams posing next to a dead kitten. In the photo, the cat appears bloodstained and has one eye popping out of its head. A noose is visible around its neck.

"Try to guess how I killed my cat, bet you can't," was the caption on the photo attributed to Williams on the private Facebook group "Cellulites: Salvation," which has about 40,000 members.

People were outraged, including members of the group (some of whom call themselves "cells").

Jordan Hall seen in this screenshot from the video

they recorded of themselves torturing and killing a cat

Word spread through posts like one by Ryan Mayne, a music teacher in Omaha. Mayne's post from early Sunday morning was shared about 7,800 times by Tuesday afternoon and featured more than 1,400 comments.

It also included a screen capture of the original photo with the caption edited to say "order me a pizza and I will post video of (the cat's) death."

Mayne, a former member who still knows people in the group, said it's not uncommon for posters to edit captions in the group, which he said had more than 40,000 members. The group traffics in "sort of offensive humor within certain morals," Mayne said.

For instance, "you can't do child porn or animal cruelty," he said.

A separate post on the text storage site Pastebin shows how internet activists conducted their own investigation.

Internet sleuths found Williams' Facebook page. They looked up the license plate on the vehicle. They tried to identify or speak with family, friends and an ex-girlfriend.

Some followed the incident into early Sunday morning, and one man recorded himself calling the Branson Police Department and speaking with a dispatcher to confirm that Williams had been arrested.

Internet sleuths also trawled for Williams' address and past digital history.

"I legit saw the minute he posted the video and was working for hours trying to gather information about him and now we got him arrested," said one commenter on a YouTube video about Williams.

Killing the kitten
According to a probable cause statement, Williams tied a rope around a cat's neck and tied it to the back of a Jeep.

The News-Leader has reviewed footage that has been shared across the internet. Branson police did not confirm the authenticity of the video when asked by the News-Leader.

The video shows a gold Jeep accelerating while people laugh and watch the kitten's plight, with one person filming the incident from the trunk.

The kitten's tiny legs couldn't keep up with the SUV, and after being dragged for several laps, the little animal lay dead on the asphalt.

Police say the incident was filmed by one of Williams' friends and, in the video, multiple individuals can be heard laughing while the cat fights to keep its footing.

"Dude, kill his ass," one person says in the video after the cat appears to lose strength and start bleeding.

At one point, the vehicle stops, and the people behind the camera discuss the "semi-alive" kitten's vitality and whether to "slam (the cat) into the ground, kill him."

"Should we put him out of his misery?" one person asks.

In response, the vehicle speeds up and the laughs start again.

Later in the video, the SUV stops and starts once more. A person in the trunk can be seen jerking on the rope so the kitten goes airborne and bounces off the pavement.

The kitten was in bad shape at the end of the video. Before the camera cuts off, one person continues jerking the rope to move the dying cat's head up and down like a macabre marionette.

"Shake your head for me if you're dead," the person says.

(Springfield News Leader - June 7, 2017)

Earlier:

• Missouri: Court documents reveal horrific torture death of cat by accused killer, 18-year-old Kyle Williams (and Jordan Hall, 19)

Newer:

• 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

Missouri: Court documents reveal horrific torture death of cat by accused killer, 18-year-old Kyle Williams (and Jordan Hall, 19)

** 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