A man has been charged with animal cruelty after a Florida homeowner discovered a box containing two severed cat heads on their mailbox, according to authorities.
Police were called to a Bonita Springs home on Thursday, March 13, after the homeowner made the “disturbing discovery,” per a statement from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO).
Due to the nature of the incident, the department’s Animal Cruelty Task Force was called to assist detectives on the scene.
The LCSO said “state-of-the-art” technology, including license plate readers (LPR), was used to examine the scene, and officers ultimately arrested 37-year-old Robert James Luther III.
Lee County Sheriffs Office
Officers discovered Luther fishing in an area near the crime scene later that day, and the LCSO said he “invoked his rights” and refused to speak with them while being questioned.
According to the LCSO, detectives found further evidence linking Luther to the crime, including “disturbing cell phone videos” in which Luther “[makes] mention” of and “depicts” the deceased cats.
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Luther was booked on two counts of aggravated animal cruelty and two counts of aggravated stalking, per the LCSO’s public booking records.
“Heinous, violent acts, especially toward innocent animals, is beyond unacceptable, and any offender will face severe consequences to the fullest extent of the law,” Sheriff Carmine Marceno said in the LCSO’s official statement.
He added: “The combined efforts of multiple units ensured this sick individual got locked behind bars before he could hurt anyone else.”
PEOPLE reached out to the LCSO for further information on Sunday, March 16, but did not receive an immediate response.
It is currently unclear if Luther has legal representation to comment on his behalf at this time.
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