North Carolina pair charged with 'improper burial' of cat; police searching for 3rd suspect
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Two people are in custody in North Carolina after "an incident involving a series of acts of animal cruelty," police said.
Jace Greene, 29, and Shariah Metzger, 26, were each charged with misdemeanors for the "improper burial of an animal," a violation of city ordinance, the Asheville Police Department announced in a Facebook post Monday. A third suspect, Zackery Greene, is also being sought in the incident, police said.
After the feline's dead body was recovered in Ashville, the animal was scanned for a microchip and identified as a cat that had been adopted from an animal rescue. Neither of those in custody owned the cat.
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Photos of the cat "circulated on social media," police said. Veronica Coit, of "Asheville Cat Weirdos" — a group that assists cat owners with veterinary costs, told WLOS she saw photos of a cat's body on Instagram and contacted police.
"To think of what these monsters did to a cat that was sweet and friendly is awful," she said.
WASHINGTON STATE SEES 12TH FELINE MUTILATED AMID FEARS OF A SERIAL CAT KILLER
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An investigation into the incident remains ongoing and a necropsy was scheduled for later this week, police said.
Both Greene and Metzer are currently being held at the Buncombe County Detention Center under a $15,000 secured bond.