PORT ST. LUCIE – A Lake Placid man remained in the St. Lucie County Jail as of Jan. 2 on charges that he killed two cats belonging to a Port St. Lucie woman.

According to a St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office affidavit, Russell John Hunter, 28, of Lake Placid was arrested on Dec. 23 after he confessed to killing one of the cats belonging to his girlfriend, who lives in the 2000 block of Bella Vista Way, Port St. Lucie.

Investigators went to the woman’s home at about 5:45 a.m., Dec. 23, after the woman claimed that Hunter killed her cats and put them in the dumpster.

Hunter, however, denied claims that he harmed either cat and since there was no probable cause, an arrest was not made at that time, according to the arrest affidavit.

At about 11:38 a.m., on Dec. 23, a counselor at New Horizons of the Treasure Coast called investigators to tell them that Hunter, during an intake assessment, confessed to strangling one of the cats named Dean, according to the arrest affidavit.

Hunter told the counselor that Hunter was playing with the cat with his foot when Dean scratched and bit Hunter, according to the arrest report. Hunter then held down Dean and that Dean may have passed away because Hunter had too strong a grip on the cat, he told investigators.

Hunter told investigators that during the altercation with Dean, Hunter got “aggressive” because Dean was scratching him, according to the arrest affidavit. Hunter also told investigators that Dean never liked him and always hissed and growled at Hunter when Hunter was in the room.

Hunter then started to cry, stating that he held Dean away from him and squeezed him with both hands around his neck and back until the cat could not fight back anymore, according to the affidavit. Hunter added in his written statement to investigators that “I don’t hate him, I miss him already” about Dean, according to the arrest affidavit.

Hunter’s second statement contradicted his first sworn statement where he claimed that Dean died of “choking” on a hairball or food, according to the arrest affidavit.

A veterinarian at Midway Veterinarian Hospital found light blood pooling on the stomach, bruising in the ears, blood on the back right toe and that both eyes had the second eyelid covering them which is not normal for a natural death, according to the affidavit.

No information was available on what caused the death of the second cat found in the dumpster.

Hunter was subsequently booked into the St. Lucie County Jail without incident on felony charges of cruelty to animals, causing death with pain and suffering and perjury — giving contradictory statements.

He remained in the St. Lucie County Jail on Jan. 2 on a $51,000 bond.