PROVO, Utah, Nov. 22, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — A Provo man has been formally charged after police said they found a kitten, burning alive, in a gutter.
The kitten had to be euthanized, Provo Police stated in a news release posted on Facebook.
Charges filed against Pedersen in 4th District Court Monday include two counts of third-degree felony torture of a companion animal, third-degree felony possession or use of heroin with intent to distribute, class B misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.
Provo Police arrested Pedersen, 26, on Wednesday after patrol officers went to an address near 1500 N. 300 West at about 3 a.m. Tuesday. After finding the kitten on fire in the gutter, patrol officers and detectives cooperated to make an animal cruelty investigation.
Neighbors reported suspicious contact with Pedersen, including seeing him in possession of kittens and rough handling of animals. One neighbor reported finding dead kittens in his dog run and seeing Pedersen near there.
Investigators obtained a warrant to search Pedersen’s trash and found another dead cat. They also found trace amounts of heroin and drug paraphernalia.
Investigators were able to link Pedersen to a Nov. 6 incident involving abuse of another cat in the same area.
Pedersen is currently being held at Utah County Jail.
This guy needs to be locked up. Please don’t let him walk!
The type of behavior he’s abused of is often said to be the early behavior of many serial killers. Small animals, then children, then. .. He needs to be punished to the full extent of the law. Wish it could go on sex offender registry too since he’s apparently getting his jollies off on it.