‘Gruesome’ discovery lands a cat killer behind bars
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — It was a packed house at the San Diego Superior Court in Vista Friday morning as an accused cat killer from Oceanside awaited his sentencing.
Joshua Tyler Boyer, who pled guilty to torturing and killing at least 10 felines, was handed an 8-year prison stay for 10 felony counts of animal cruelty.
FOX 5 was in the courtroom, seeing several animal service agencies present to witness the 31-year-old man’s sentencing.
San Diego Humane Society’s Humane Law Enforcement launched an investigation into Boyer after after a GPS tracker on a missing cat led them to a gruesome discovery — a strew of dead animals and partial remains on his family’s property in Escondido.
Also found at the scene by authorities were suspected torture tools and firearms with DNA that matched Boyer’s.
“While we can never erase the suffering endured by these helpless animals, we take solace in this investigation coming to a conclusion with a prison sentence,” said San Diego Humane Society Humane Law Enforcement Lt. Regina Price. “We want this case to serve as a stark reminder that we will relentlessly pursue justice for those who cannot speak for themselves.”
According to San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan’s office, Boyer had adopted many of the cats from the Humane Society and Craigslist.
“This was an egregious and extremely disturbing case of animal abuse,” Stephan said. “Our specialized Animal Cruelty Unit brings its expertise working with other agencies in order to investigate and prosecute these difficult cases and bring justice to those can’t speak for themselves. Let this case be a warning that those who abuse animals will be held accountable.”
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