FORT PIERCE, Fla. (CBS12) — A Fort Myers father is accused of cruelly killing family kittens in front of his teenage daughter as punishment, leaving two dead and one injured.
According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a home in Pine Manor after receiving a report that a man was attempting to drown and strike a two-month-old kitten named Luna.
Witnesses identified the suspect as David Charette Jr. Detectives say family members told investigators Charette would kill the family’s kittens in front of his teenage daughter whenever she “acted up.”
The investigation revealed Charette allegedly killed two other kittens over the past year.
See also: Road rage ends in violent 4-vehicle crash on U.S. 1, Port St. Lucie man arrested
In June, deputies say he smothered a one-month-old kitten with a bleach-soaked rag. In another incident, he allegedly killed a three-month-old kitten by burning it with a blow dryer.
Investigators say both kittens were buried in the backyard, but only one was recovered during a search of the property.
Deputies say Luna was taken to a local animal hospital for treatment and is expected to recover. Charette was arrested on aggravated animal cruelty charges.