Prison possible in cats' deaths

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/article/20110729/NEWS97/707299914#prison-possible-in-cats-deaths

Published Friday July 29, 2011

By Joe Duggan
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU

LINCOLN — A Nebraska City man who police say strangled two of his family's cats now faces a possible prison term.

Police arrested Eric Inman, 47, last week after they found the pets buried in the back yard of his residence. He has since been charged with two felony counts of animal cruelty, which carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

A veterinarian who examined the cats determined they died by strangulation, said police Capt. Lonnie Neeman.

"We have animal neglect calls about every day, but we've never had anything quite like this before," he said.

The case unfolded after police received a call from Inman's wife late last week. The day before, she said, she and the couple's children had fled the home following an argument with her husband.

"The next day, he texted her and said . . . he had killed two cats and would kill a third if she didn't get home," Neeman said.

FULL story at link.

[dana_b]

1. what - and then they would be next?

sicko.

[aquart]

7. Yes. They would.

[lapislzi]

10. +1 n/t

[fishwax]

35. good chance of it n/t

[LWolf]

2. GOOD. nt

[dipsydoodle]

3. Some people are just so nasty

:(

[Withywindle]

4. Good!

Animal cruelty needs to be taken more seriously. Not only is the cruelty to the animal horrible, but killing beloved family pets is a form of severe emotional abuse and torture to the humans as well.

[femrap]

9. +1000

[lukasahero]

5. "we've never had anything quite like this before"

They're lucky then. Threats to pets and children is among the strongest reasons women don't leave their abusers.

This poor woman. I'm glad she was able to take the children.

[aquart]

6. Yes. Jail.

Convict him of child abuse because this was done to intimidate them.

[TheWraith]

8. I'm really trying to think of something to say in this situation...

...something which doesn't advocate torturing this sick piece of shit.

[Maru Kitteh]

11. Given my way he'd never step free again. Ever. Don't care one bit about "rehabilitation"

in cases like these.

Next time it will be the children. People who abuse animals abuse people. Lock the fucker up forever.

[hamsterjill]

22. I couldn't have said it better!!!

n/t

[ZombieHorde]

12. If that man isn't a sports star, he may be fucked.

If he is a sports star, he has little to worry about.

[Contrary1]

13. My neighbor called Animal Control a couple days ago on another neighbor...

She witnessed the owner stomping his dog in the front yard. This, after someone else who saw him shooting the poor animal with a BB gun, while stuck in a too small cage, hadn't bothered to report it.

I couldn't tell if the officer took the dog with him or not, but I haven't seen or heard it since.

Unbelievable what some folks are capable of inflicting upon the defenseless.

[RebelOne]

28. I have also called animal control on my next-door neighbor.

But for nothing that extreme. She would leave her poor little doggie tied outside no matter the weather. Even if it was storming, freezing, and extremely hot, that poor dog was tied outside. Finally, I had enough and called animal control because it was 30 degrees and that dog was freezing. The animal control officer came out and saw the dog's condition and he was shivering in the cold. He cited her and the problem was solved (at least for the time being).

[get the red out]

14. He really needs to spend some time in prison

People like this should not be out on the street. We really need more of an outcry for stiffer penalties for animal cruelty in this country.

[Kalidurga]

15. This was more than animal cruelty....

as others have pointed out it was a terroristic threat to his wife and children. Since he killed the two cats it is apparent he has no qualms about killing and in addition to being put away for animal cruelty he should have additional charges brought for engaging in terroristic acts.

[get the red out]

29. He should rot in prison

For me, horrific animal cruelty would be enough for his ass to rot in prison, though often not for others. Considering his other vile offenses, hopefully hell will freeze over before he gets out.

I am really becoming more disgusted with creatures like this man every day. :mad:

[anneboleyn]

33. Yes, he threatened their lives, and he used the cats as "demonstration." This shows a definite

capacity for killing. And as others have noted, it is not usual for domestic abusers/murderers to "use" animals then turn to people.

[Coyote_Bandit]

16. I'd bet that

the man has an undiagnosed and untreated mental illness.

Not defending him or excusing his actions. But that kind of behavior is not at all uncommon in some mental illnesses.

[lapislzi]

18. I admit that I am speculating, but

as a domestic violence survivor myself, I think this story has all the classic hallmarks of a severe domestic violence issue.

That's not to say abusers can't be mentally ill. Some are. But in my experience, the disorder that most suffer from (men and women) is either pathological narcissism or borderline personality disorder, or a combination.

Threats or harm to pets is a classic control tactic to prevent the abused from leaving. Also, sadly, a sign that the situation is very dire.

I wish I didn't know these things, but I do.

[Coyote_Bandit]

19. It also has the hallmarks of untreated bipolar disorder

Untreated and unstable bipolar people DO rage. It is emotionally abusive. But rage is a symptom of untreated bipolar disorder. The rage often is directed at inanimate objects and animals before being turned on others.

Like you, I wish I didn't know these things, but I do.

[lapislzi]

21. Borderline and BPII can coexist

Sometimes difficult to distinguish one from the other. Throw a little OCD into the mix (line up all the cans, labels facing front, please, and straighten out those dish towels), and you've got a simmering volcano in your house.

Read "Stop Walking on Eggshells." It's a great resource for people living with a BPD sufferer.

[Coyote_Bandit]

23. The BPD sufferer I knew committed suicide n/t

[lapislzi]

24. Oh, no. I am so sorry.

They are a very at-risk group. My one BPD sufferer has tried twice, doing better with meds. The other one is just a bully from whom I'm now divorced.

Sometimes they act in, sometimes they act out. Sometimes both.

:hug:

[Coyote_Bandit]

27. Thank you

I hate to say it but in some ways his death was a relief. He refused help and would not consider any form of counseling or medical intervention. He was unpredictable and could be violent and manipulative. He abused and took advantage of everyone around him. I no longer fear for their safety or wonder whether they are being manipulated or abused.

[Mnemosyne]

32. It has a 25% mortality rate. n/t

[Ikonoklast]

17. I'd pay good money to meet Mr. Eric Inman.

Bastard.

May he rot in Hell.

[michreject]

20. I don't have a problem with this

even if he might progress to humans.

The animals alone are enough.

[Critters2]

25. When I was on the Humane Society board,

the Exec Director of the Domestic Violence Shelter met with us, asking if we would care for animals from abusive homes. She said one of the major reasons spouses (mostly women) don't leave abusive situations is fear of what the abuser will do to the family pets. Apparently, this is surprisingly common. Of course, we agreed to offer our services immediately and unanimously...and she asked us to take in a cat and a dog that night, because she was trying to get a woman and her children into the shelter.

So sad that these situations exist. And yeah, I don't have a problem with this guy going to prison.

[tblue37]

37. Not surprising. One reason disaster victims often

don't accept rescue is that they can't bear to leave beloved pets behind. (I know I sure couldn't do it!)

[Liberal_in_LA]

26. horrible. Lots of domestic abuse involves threats to the pets

[Omaha Steve]

30. I actually got to post at work on my break today

I see this had some action.

[MoonRiver]

31. Good, lock him up and throw away the key.

His next victim will very possibly be human.

[lonestarnot]

34. Stupid fucker. I hope they put him in the pen where they let inmates care for cats.

:7

[fishwax]

36. good n/t