FL Father Killed Family Kittens To Punish Daughter: Sheriff

FORT MYERS, FL — A Fort Myers man was arrested on an aggravated animal cruelty charge after investigators say he killed two kittens and injured a third, allegedly as a form of punishment for his teenage daughter, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office said in a social media post.

David Charette Jr., 48, was arrested after deputies responded to a home in the Pine Manor area on Aug. 5 following a report that a man was attempting to drown and strike a 2-month-old kitten named Luna.

Witnesses told deputies Charette had threatened to abuse and kill the family's kittens in front of his teenage daughter when she "acted up," the sheriff’s office said.

Luna was taken to a local animal hospital for treatment and is recovering, authorities said.

The investigation also uncovered allegations involving two other kittens that had died within the past year.

According to investigators, Charette allegedly killed a 1-month-old kitten in June by beating it and smothering it with a bleach-soaked rag.

In a separate incident, authorities said he killed a 3-month-old kitten by burning it with a blow dryer.

Investigators learned the two kittens had been buried in the home's backyard, but only one was recovered during a search of the property.

Luna was taken to a local animal hospital where she received treatment and is recovering.

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