- Florida, USA -
Collier County Sheriff’s Office have arrested 21-year-old CHRISTIAN LEE HUNTER (pictured below), on Monday, February 1, after an innocent hamster was discovered beheaded in a box.
HUNTER, of 4362 27th Avenue Northeast, is accused of severing the head of a hamster he bought from a pet store and then discarding the animal in a blood-smeared box.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, on January 5, a resident reported finding a decapitated hamster inside a pet store box next to the roadway in the 4200 block of 27th Avenue Northeast.
The resident told detectives she had found several other boxes over the last year containing what she described as “sadistically mutilated” small animals.
Inside the box there were bloody wipes, an empty scissor package, a fingernail file package, a receipt showing the purchase of a hamster on January 4, 2021, for $14.99, and
the sales record with a fictitious name and address.
Detectives contacted the pet store in Lee County and obtained surveillance footage which showed a man purchasing the hamster on the date and time listed on the receipt.
The man was wearing a face mask and eyeglasses and had a large tattoo on his right forearm.
A further investigation identified HUNTER as the suspect.
When HUNTER was questioned, he admitted to buying the hamster and providing a false name on the sales record.
HUNTER was arrested and charged with cruelty to animals – cause cruel death, pain or suffering, a felony, and unlawful disposal of a dead animal, a misdemeanor.
On Tuesday, February 2, HUNTER had his first court appearance.
He remains in custody at Collier County Jail and can no longer buy animals.
Meanwhile, in Lee County, a warrant has been issued for HUNTER’s arrest.
In a Facebook post the Lee County Sheriff’s Office recounted an animal cruelty incident of which HUNTER is accused.
In 2020, the Sheriff’s Office was alerted to a mutilated hamster found in a box within the parking lot of a Petco in Fort Myers.
LCSO’s Animal Cruelty Task Force assumed the investigation.
The investigation revealed the suspect to be CHRISTIAN LEE HUNTER who resides in Naples.
WINK reports that when HUNTER was questioned, he stated his dog had mauled the hamster who had been “ripped into quarters.”
The Sheriff’s Office said this statement was later be proven false.
Based on those initial statements, detectives were unable to prove a crime had been committed, and an arrest was not immediately made.
In light of the recent facts, and the joint collaboration of the investigators, Lee County detectives have now charged HUNTER with aggravated animal cruelty, unlawful disposal of a dead animal, and making a false statement to a law enforcement officer.
A petition has been created addressed to Amira D. Fox, State’s Attorney for Collier County, Florida, asking to punish and seek mental health services for HUNTER.
In a Facebook post, Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk said: “Animal cruelty can never be justified.”
Voice For Us wants to respond to Sheriff Rambosk by saying tell that to the judge who will try this case.
Let’s not confuse mental health problems with evil.
HUNTER is evil from head to toe!
He was lucid enough to into a store to buy the innocent animals.
This story is sourced from official news outlets. Links included.
Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.
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