ASBURY PARK – A 19-year-old man was sentenced to five years in state prison for torturing and killing his pet cat, police said.
Bani J. Mezquititla, of Asbury Park will also have to pay restitution for the cost of the cat’s necropsy and comply with an order permanently banning him from ever again owning, living with, or having custody over any animal, police said.
The investigation began in March of 2023, when a concerned citizen brought the body of the cat to police headquarters. Investigators learned that Mezquititla performed sexual acts on the animal which seriously injured it. He then restrained and tortured the cat to death. He was arrested on the same day the investigation began and has been in custody ever since.
“It is virtually impossible to conceive of an instance of animal cruelty reflective of greater depths of depravity than this,” Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago said. “Thanks to a diligent investigation and prosecution, yesterday’s sentencing marked one of the most substantial criminal penalties for an offense of this nature ever seen in the State of New Jersey. It is the maximum sentence one can receive under the law. We strongly feel that this outcome serves the interests of justice, and hope that the numerous individuals from across the country who have reached out urging us to win justice for Ellie are similarly satisfied.”
