IDA Offers $2500 Reward for Information Leading to Arrest and Conviction of Person(s) Responsible for Brutal Animal Slayings

Hammond, La.—In the wake of several grisly animal murders, international animal protection organization In Defense of Animals (IDA) is offering a reward of $2500 for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for these killings.

In the dead of night, the killer or killers first targeted an undisclosed woman’s house on three separate occasions, lethally slitting the throats of several dogs, cats and horses. The attacker(s) broke into her house to gain access to some of these animals, one of whom was a survivor of Hurricane Katrina.

On subsequent nights, the animal killer(s) targeted the home of the woman’s neighbor, Kevin Estave, murdering one of his three dogs by smashing the animal’s head in with a heavy object. Four of his ducks were also butchered and left in a pile in the middle of the road, two of them completely gutted. On Sunday, February 25, three of Estave’s goats died from what a veterinarian diagnosed as deliberate poisoning.

By offering a $2500 reward, IDA hopes to convey the seriousness of this crime, not only for the purpose of achieving justice for the murdered animals and their devastated guardians, but to prevent potential violence against the citizens of Hammond and surrounding areas. F.B.I. and Department of Justice studies have proven a connection between animal abuse and – later in life – domestic violence, child abuse and serial killings. Infamous murderers – including Ted Bundy, Earl Kenneth Shriner, David Berkowitz, Brenda Spencer and Columbine High School’s Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold – are known to have tortured and mutilated animals before moving on the human victims.

“When people report animal cruelty, they help the police and the local humane society protect animals and people from intensified violence,” says IDA President and founder Elliot M. Katz, DVM. “My experience with cases like this tells me that there is a lot more going on than what we are seeing.” Statistics about the link between violence to animals and violence to humans are available at www.guardiancampaign.com/violencestats.htm.

Leads from concerned citizens may be the only hope for finding whoever committed these reprehensible acts. Anyone who may have information about these crimes is encouraged to contact Dr. Elliot Katz at 415-388-9641, ext. 225.