Cat Serial Killer Has 12 Victims Across Washington Now, $30,000 Reward Announced

A mutilated cat, linked to 12 others discovered in similar conditions in Washington, was found in Thurston County in the state on Tuesday, officials said. The police suspected the dead cats were the work of a serial cat killer.

The reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the serial cat killer stood last at $30,000.

Forensic exams confirmed the newly discovered animal's injuries matched the "specific mutilations of previous 11 cats," officials said. The incident was also consistent in the manner, appearance and staging of the other mutilations.

The cat was discovered at noon in the 3800 block of Pacific Avenue in Olympia. Lt. Sam Costello of the Olympia Police Department said the incident this time occurred at a place of business. When the workers left the place at 5 p.m. local time [8 p.m. EDT] on Monday, the cat’s body was not there. According to Costello, the body must have been left there sometime between 5 p.m. local time Monday and Tuesday noon. The name of the business has not been revealed.

He added the cat had the same “degree of carving” and “surgical-type mutilations” which made the killing consistent with the 11 others previously found. The cats were left in splayed out positions which could only be done by a human, Costello said, adding the animals looked “posed.”

Officer Erika Johnson with Thurston County Animal Services said the cats were cut open from their stern to their genitals with a scalpel, and their spines were also removed. The cats were then left in public settings where they were later discovered by people passing by. The details of the cats were not revealed.

"I feel for the animal owners because I’m an animal owner myself and just the manner these animals have died is extremely horrific," she said.

The investigators said the earliest similar cat killings were recorded in February.

The reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the serial cat killer in Thurston County was raised to $30,000 on Friday after two more mutilated cats were found Wednesday, raising the tally to 11. One was found around 8 a.m. local time [11 p.m. EDT] and the other around 6 p.m. local time [9 p.m. EDT].

The breakdown of the reward is as such: Pasado's Safe Haven is offering $15,000, Humane Society of the United States is offering $10,000 and the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is offering $5,000 as reward.

“These are among the most disturbing and heartbreaking crimes I have ever seen. We hope that anyone with information about the individual or individuals performing these monstrous acts of brutality will come forward,” Dan Paul, a member of the Humane Society of the United States, said.

The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO), last Thursday, assigned a major crime detective to work with the previously assigned investigators from other agencies “to solve this disturbing serial crime spree.”

“TCSO is extremely concerned that such a predator/s is lurking and committing such vile crimes within our community,” the sheriff’s office said. “TCSO will expend every available resource to solve these serial crimes and bring the perpetrator to justice.”

The primary investigators for the incident are the Thurston County Joint Animal Services, but other agencies, like the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office, Pasado’s Safe Haven and Washington’s Most Wanted are also working on the incident.