Missouri man accused of torturing, dismembering cats he found on Craigslist

A Missouri man was arrested after authorities say he tortured and killed multiple cats and kittens he found through Craigslist.

Kaine Louzader, 20, was charged on Friday with two counts of felony animal abuse, although more charges are expected to be filed against him, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney Tim Lohmar said investigators believe Louzader, who lives with his grandparents, killed at least 12 felines of varying ages, which he got from people who were offering them for sale or for free on Craigslist. Although it is not known when Louzader allegedly started the criminal behavior, court documents show that dead cats have been turning up in the area surrounding his street since January.

Louzader was brought in for questioning after a man contacted authorities on Monday to reports witnessing someone dumping the body of a dead cat. The suspect allegedly had a vehicle that matched a description of Louzader's white Toyota Camry.

St. Charles County police Sgt. Jeff Ochs said Louzader admitted to scouring Craigslist ads for cats or kittens, taking them home and stomping on their heads or strangling them to death before dismembering them and dumping their remains on nearby streets.

Louzader initially told police that a few visible scratches on his arms and hands were caused by an elderly patient at the hospital where he worked. He eventually admitted they came from the last cat he killed on Sunday.

He is currently being held in jail on $50,000 bond and is expected to undergo a psychological evaluation, the Riverfront Times reports.