Atlantic City, NJ, Man ‘Tortured, beat, and killed’ Stray Cats: Prosecutor

An Atlantic City man has been charged with allegedly torturing, beating, and killing numerous stray cats in the city.

• We caution you that some details in this story are very graphic.

Man Charged With 13 Counts of Animal Cruelty

On Tuesday, 26-year-old Edwin Sanabia was charged with 13 counts of animal cruelty.

Police: Cats Lured, Beaten, and Dumped

Acting on information received from citizens in the city, authorities say a trained humane law enforcement officer with the Atlantic City Police Department investigated reports of the "cruel torture and killing of cats by Sanabia in his Atlantic City neighborhood."

That investigation, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office, allegedly revealed that Sanabia would lure abandoned and stray cats into his home with food, and he would then torture, beat, and kill them before dumping the bodies in a nearby dumpster.

• READ MORE: Atlantic City, NJ, Police Chief Wrangles Alleged Illegal ATV Rider

Officials say he is also charged with other acts of animal cruelty by allegedly punching, hitting, and dragging other cats by their tails; he also allegedly beat several cats with sticks while they were hiding in a makeshift shelter on a neighbor's property.

Authorities did not indicate if Sanabia was currently being held in custody.

• READ MORE: 10 Wild Atlantic City, NJ, Attractions That Don’t Actually Exist — But Should!

Anyone with information about this incident or other crimes is asked to call the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office at (609) 909-7800.

The public is reminded that charges are accusations and all persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.