A Florida man has been arrested and charged with aggravated animal cruelty after authorities accused him of killing two family kittens and injuring a third. Lee County deputies said the alleged abuse occurred in front of the man’s teenage daughter and was used as punishment when she misbehaved. Investigators recovered the buried remains of one kitten from the family’s backyard. The surviving two-month-old kitten, Luna, was taken to an animal hospital and is recovering.
The case began when deputies responded to a home in Pine Manor after receiving a report that a man was attempting to drown and strike Luna. Body camera footage released by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office shows deputies speaking with David Charette Jr. after arriving at the residence.
| 1) | Arrest follows report involving a kitten |
| 2) | Alleged punishment involving the family pets |
| 3) | Investigators describe earlier kitten deaths |
| 4) | Luna receives treatment and continues recovering |
| 5) | Sheriff calls allegations deeply disturbing |
Arrest follows report involving a kitten
Lee County deputies went to a residence in Pine Manor, Florida, after a report that David Charette Jr., 48, was attempting to drown and hit Luna, a two-month-old kitten. Deputies arrested Charette during the response and charged him with aggravated animal cruelty. The allegations remain subject to court proceedings, and the available account does not indicate that a verdict has been reached.
Body camera footage shows Charette speaking with deputies at the home. During the interaction, he defended his treatment of Luna and said he was bathing the kitten because it had soiled itself while confined in a cage.
“The cat is in perfectly healthy condition,” Charette told deputies. “I have to give the cat a bath because it soils itself in the cage.”
Alleged punishment involving the family pets
Witnesses told investigators that Charette allegedly abused and killed the family’s kittens in front of his teenage daughter as a form of punishment when she “acted up.” The daughter was central to the authorities’ account of why the alleged conduct occurred and how the animals were reportedly used to discipline her.
The accusations concern both the treatment of Luna during the deputies’ response and earlier incidents involving other kittens. Authorities said the alleged conduct took place at the family home, where deputies later searched the backyard for evidence.
Investigators describe earlier kitten deaths
Investigators said they learned that two other kittens had allegedly been killed during the previous year. According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, one one-month-old kitten was allegedly smothered in June with a rag soaked in bleach.
In a separate incident, authorities said a three-month-old kitten was allegedly killed with a blow-dryer. Investigators said both animals had been buried in the backyard, although deputies recovered only one set of remains during their search of the property. The recovered remains are part of the investigation supporting the charge.
Luna receives treatment and continues recovering
Luna was removed from the home and taken to a local animal hospital after the reported incident. Authorities said the kitten was receiving treatment and recovering. The available information does not specify the full extent of Luna’s injuries or how long veterinary care is expected to continue.
The animal’s condition contrasts with the allegations involving the two kittens whose remains investigators said were buried. Authorities released the body camera footage and details about Luna’s treatment as the criminal case moved forward.
Sheriff calls allegations deeply disturbing
Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said the allegations involving the teenage daughter made the case particularly troubling. He said the account that a father killed his daughter’s kittens when she was in trouble was sickening.
“A daughter says that when she acts up or when she’s in trouble, her father kills her kittens. This is sickening to me,” Marceno said.
The investigation was conducted by Lee County authorities after the initial report at the Pine Manor residence. Charette faces the aggravated animal cruelty charge as the allegations are handled through the legal system.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | David Charette Jr. was arrested in Pine Manor and charged with aggravated animal cruelty. |
| 2 | Authorities said Luna was injured during an alleged incident involving drowning and striking. |
| 3 | Investigators linked two earlier alleged kitten deaths to the home and recovered one set of remains. |
| 4 | Luna was taken to an animal hospital and is recovering. |
Summary
The allegations describe a case in which family kittens were allegedly harmed as punishment for a teenage girl. Authorities arrested Charette after a report involving Luna, recovered remains from the backyard and identified two earlier alleged kitten deaths. Luna survived and is receiving veterinary care, while the criminal case proceeds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What charges does David Charette Jr. face?
He was arrested and charged with aggravated animal cruelty, according to Lee County authorities.
What happened to the surviving kitten?
Luna, a two-month-old kitten, was taken to a local animal hospital and is recovering.
What evidence did investigators recover?
Investigators said they recovered one set of buried kitten remains from the family’s backyard after learning of two earlier alleged deaths.
