Despicable, heinous, heart-wrenching, and horrible -- these are the words that come to mind when I painfully read about the 19 or more cats who were kidnapped and brutally killed, mutilated, gutted, and disposed of on the lawns of their owners over the past two months in south Florida. Since Mother's Day, residents in the Miami area communities of Palmetto Bay and Cutler Bay have had their beloved companion animals murdered, apparently by an 18-year-old boy, Tyler Hayes Weinman, whose divorced parents each live in one of the terrorized communities. Following his arrest on June 14, Weinman was deemed "competent" after his psychological evaluation and has been released on bail; he is currently under house arrest, awaiting his next hearing on July 6. Weinman was charged with "19 counts of felony animal cruelty, 19 counts of improperly disposing of an animal body, and four counts of burglary."

Miami-Dade County Commissioner Katy Sorenson said, "I understand that pet owners feel very strongly about their little family members. Animals bring happiness and comfort to our lives. So to see them so violated and mutilated just defies all common sense and it's painful for everyone involved. Thankfully, for this community, the terror has come to an end."

As a lover of all animals, particularly cats whom I utterly adore, I can't help but be filled with both rage and despair over the monstrous cruelty so easily inflicted on these beautiful and innocent living beings. Truly, what is wrong with these people! When asked a similar question during a CNN interview about the Weinman case, former FBI profiler Candice DeLong replied:

This behavior is a very serious indicator of a troubled person... possibly they're a sadistic killer in training and they're acting out a fantasy, working up to and practicing what they want to do humans. Cats actually are the most frequently abused/mutilated animals by potential serial killers. Why? Well, one killer told me, "I hate them... they are just like women! They sneak around, they are quiet and conniving, they act like they don't need you, and they need to be dead!" If I was looking for a suspect, I'd be looking for a male. This is a crime about power; control, rage, and possibly sadism (sexual control). Another possibility is that it was some kind of sick joke or game to someone, but if you think it's funny, that says something is horribly wrong with the person as well. The person who did this is dangerous to society. Whatever the motivation driving the behavior, the ability to stalk and kill 18 pet cats shows a complete lack of empathy, judgment and regard for the consequences of their actions. Whether or not you like cats, even if you detest them, healthy people are still able to understand the pain they would be inflicting on the family to which they belong.