Yonkers Man, 60, Arrested in Connection with Case of 25 Dead Cats

Yonkers police Tuesday arrested Rene Carcamo, age 60, in connection with the April discovery of 25 deceased cats bagged and hanging from trees.

Carcamo resides on Overlook Terrace, near where the gruesome discovery took place, accoring to the SPCA of Westchester, which announced the arrest.

“The SPCA of Westchester is pleased that an arrest has been made in this case, after many months of investigation, interviews and hard work,” said Ernest Lungaro, director of the animal rights group’s Humane Law Enforcement Unit, in a statement. “We are grateful to the Yonkers Police Department and the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office for helping us to make this possible.”

Carcamo was questioned several times for any possible involvement in the in case, but specifics relating to what led to his arrest were not disclosed. He was charged with illegally disposing of dead cats, and two counts of animal cruelty ”for failure to provide medical attention for two kittens” in his possession.

Below is the press release from the SPCA of Westchester about the arrest:

Shannon Laukhuf, Executive Director of the SPCA of Westchester, announced today that the SPCA of Westchester’s Humane Law Enforcement (HLE) Unit and the Yonkers Police Department arrested Rene Carcamo age 60 of 25 Overlook Terrace, Yonkers for illegally disposing of dead cats by placing them in plastic bags and hanging them from a tree on Overlook Terrace in Yonkers, a violation of environmental conservation law. He is also charged with two counts of animal cruelty for failure to provide medical attention for two kittens, discovered in his possession by the HLE Unit during its investigation in July.

Ernest Lungaro, Director of the SPCA’s HLE Unit and members of the Yonkers Police Department arrested Carcamo following an exhaustive investigation conducted by the HLE Unit, the Yonkers Police Department and the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office.

On April 24, 2014, Lungaro was called to the Yonkers location after Yonkers Department of Public Works employees discovered the bodies of 25 cats hanging from a tree, and several dead felines on the ground.

The SPCA’s HLE Unit and Yonkers Police conducted interviews with residents in the neighborhood and pursued all leads. Carcamo was questioned on several occasions by authorities regarding the dead cats at Overlook Terrace.

In July, Lungaro instructed Carcamo to get veterinary assistance for kittens living in his apartment that were visibly sick. When it was determined that he had not complied, Lungaro removed the kittens from his home. A veterinary exam found that the kittens had conjunctivitis, discharge from nose and mouth and were severely neglected.

“The SPCA of Westchester is pleased that an arrest has been made in this case, after many months of investigation, interviews and hard work,” said Lungaro. “We are grateful to the Yonkers Police Department and the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office for helping us to make this possible.”

“The SPCA remains saddened by the magnitude and severity of this crime against such innocent animals,” said Executive Director Shannon Laukhuf. “Our focus since the incident has been to help feral and stray cats living in that location by examining them for disease and illness, performing spay and neuter surgeries and seeking a safer place for them to live. We are looking for outdoor facilities such as barns to house the cats.”

The SPCA of Westchester is located in Briarcliff Manor and is a no-kill shelter. The SPCA is not affiliated with the ASPCA. To donate to this cause, visit WWW.SPCA914.ORG.