A 60-year-old Yonkers man has been accused of putting more than two dozen dead cats in plastic bags and then hanging them from tree branches, authorities say.
Rene Carcamo was arrested this week after investigators found 25 dead cats hanging from trees and the carcasses of several more felines on the ground near Overlook Terrace in Yonkers on April 24.
At the time, SPCA officials said the cats had apparently been killed by blows to the head. Examiners performed necropsies and found that at least three animals had blunt-force trauma to the head.
“The SPCA of Westchester is pleased that an arrest has been made in this case, after many months of investigation, interviews and hard work,” said SPCA spokesman Eric Lungaro.
The SPCA says investigators questioned Carcamo several times about the dead cats.
On one occasion, in July, investigators asked the man to take several of his kittens that appeared to be sick to the veterinarian and took them when he didn't.
A vet later found that the kittens had been severely neglected and diagnosed both with conjunctivitis, a discharge from the nose and mouth.
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Carcamo is charged with violating city environmental conservation laws for allegedly disposing of the cats in Overlook Terrace and two counts of animal abuse for his alleged treatment of the kittens, police say.
It's not immediately clear if Carcamo has an attorney.
