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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009

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After Nabbing Terrorist, Navy SEALs Face Assault Rap

Iraqi accused in '04 incident got bloody lip from US captors

Nov 24, 09 8:33 PM CST
Texas Accidentally Bans Straight Marriage

Law designed to forbid gay civil unions actually bars any unions

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NEW BOOK

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Say Bill Sparkman faked his death to collect on life insurance

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Facing record suicide rate, Army confronts the stigma

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|NEXT STORY »

Cat-Carving Teenager a Sociopath: Detectives

By Mary Papenfuss| Posted Jul 7, 09 5:02 AM CDT|

(Newser) – A Florida teen charged with killing 19 cats in his Miami community became so excited talking about feline dissection that detectives were convinced he was a sociopath, according to court documents released yesterday. Tyler Weinman, 18, never admitted he killed the cats that were found mutilated in his neighborhood, but eagerly spoke of the appealing "tearing sound" of cat dissection. Police discovered cutting tools in his home and a long cat scratch on his back. He's being held under house arrest as his trial gets underway.

Thomas Shad poses with his new cat, Miss Prissy, last month in Miami, after his previous pet was killed. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

Tyler Weinman has been charged with killing and mutilating 19 cats in his neighborhood. (AP Photo/Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office)

Doug Weinman, father of Tyler Weinman, who is accused of killing more than a dozen cats in South Florida, walks out of the Miami-Dade County courthouse with his wife, Arllette, last month. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

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52 comments

VIEWING:

AClotfelter
Jul 7, 09 5:22 AM CDT

This is exactly the kind of person who needs to be segregated from society... Reply

+18

IN RESPONSE:

Chilblain
Jul 7, 09 4:45 PM CDT

And heavily medicated...........

IN RESPONSE:

onebadc20
Jul 7, 09 10:15 PM CDT

With the world best acid because he is so awesome!

-1

| 0 minutes ago

Kookey90
Jul 7, 09 5:31 AM CDT

That is one really sick SOB; he may think it's all fun and games right now, but wait until he winds up in prison. The Mandingo Brother's will have him squealing like a pig in no time. That should cure his fascination with cat cries. Reply

+13

IN RESPONSE:

anchower
Jul 7, 09 7:19 PM CDT

Had to throw some racism in there, didn't you.

IN RESPONSE:

mazimoyo
Jul 8, 09 8:57 AM CDT

The "BrotherHood" brothers like to poke a little pig too from what I hear. Just too keep things fair.

| 0 minutes ago

riffran
Jul 7, 09 6:37 AM CDT

I used to have a calico.....for over ten years, :( I miss that ole cat she was a member of the family.....how the hell can you do that to a poor cat?.....yeah prison life would be good for him......"you sure got some purty lips there boy.........now squeal like a pig"..... Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Caps
Jul 7, 09 7:46 AM CDT

It takes a real sick person to harm animals like he did. I hope he get what he deserves. He need to be made to squeal like a cat a few times Reply

| 0 minutes ago

shonangreg
Jul 7, 09 8:38 AM CDT

I agree with AClotfelter. This guy needs to be taken out of society. And he needs help. .... You others, reveling in him going to prison and being abused, I don't understand. This guy hasn't hurt anyone yet. He has just tortured animals. What kind of resentment are you building up to think that a kid needs to be raped in prison for torturing pets? And you folk say the same thing every time someone you dislike appears to be headed for the pokey. Reply

-12

IN RESPONSE:

schmidtkoff
Jul 7, 09 10:56 AM CDT

i don't condone him being abused in prison, but he does deserve to be there. i work with a population of adolescents who have done similar things, and they have been abused in horrific ways. it is perpetuated to the most vulnerable. what is proven is that they who abuse animals do in some cases graduate to abusing humans.

IN RESPONSE:

freethemall
Jul 7, 09 10:56 AM CDT

I agree that he needs to be taken out of society, and that he needs help, if there is any help for a person such as himself. But I think torturing people is only marginally worse than torturing animals, and I don't doubt, for a second, that he has shown himself fully amenable to torturing any living thing, including human beings. And I fully understand how those who would like to get even with him feel. I "feel" the same way (I wonder if you do), but in such situations, it behooves us to control our emotional reactions. As AClotfelter asserts, he needs to be segregated, but doing to him, as he likes to do to other living things, serves no purpose.

IN RESPONSE:

kati
Jul 7, 09 10:56 AM CDT

"He has just tortured animals" Don't think your brain is firing properly, have another drink.

IN RESPONSE:

JonmarkP
Jul 7, 09 12:43 PM CDT

Yes, the comments delighting in the prospect that he'll be raped and tortured sound as though they're coming from people exactly like him. It's creepy in the extreme. Jesus, what the fuck is wrong with you people?

IN RESPONSE:

skylinesandsunsets
Jul 7, 09 12:44 PM CDT

He has just tortured animals? Greg, how would you like it if your special pet was tortured and killed? Get yourself a pet companion, spend some years with him, and you will understand.

IN RESPONSE:

Jezze
Jul 7, 09 3:00 PM CDT

i bet you'd be singing a different tune if it was your pet that he killed.

IN RESPONSE:

shonangreg
Jul 7, 09 5:31 PM CDT

Skyline and Jezze, yes, if he tortured one of my pets, I'd naturally want to beat the guy senseless (and I would if I could find him before the police). However, I don't expect to live in a society where such retribution is the normal way of administering justice. As a society, we take a step back and try to fix people or failing that, keep them segregated. So, if I missed my chance to personally and immediately kick his ass, I'd eventually feel pain and content myself with the hope that the bastard would never do it again. .......... kati, I don't dismiss the vileness or the significance of him torturing animals. I think it is horrible and the actions of a sick mind, but it is not the same thing as hurting people. .............. You people are letting your desire for revenge blind you. You want to fix these kinds of things? You want to do something PRODUCTIVE with your frustration? Then urge your legislators to decriminalize recreational drugs, empty out the prisons and courts of drug users, and speed up the justice process for all the others. Prison should be for criminals victimizing the rest of us.

IN RESPONSE:

newzjunkie
Jul 8, 09 2:01 AM CDT

"Decriminalize recreation drugs", yeah that will help in a big way. This kid needs so much help and segregation I'm not sure it is even available. But trying to fix one severe problem with another isn't going to help, even if the jails and prisons were cleared out. I know many "recreational" drug users who need a lot of help themselves. Although they would never admit it, but just ask their families.

| 0 minutes ago

riffran
Jul 7, 09 8:43 AM CDT

Well I wouldn't wish that on somebody I liked. So. Sorry my heart just doesn't bleed for rapist murderers and sick punks like this twerp so sue me. Than god he didn't graduate to people yet Reply

IN RESPONSE:

shonangreg
Jul 7, 09 9:31 AM CDT

You're heart need not bleed for him, but you also need not call for his blood. I don't care to sue you or punish you in any way; I'm just asking you to step back and gain some perspective. And I agree that it is good he did not graduate to people, which I guess he would have. Putting him in ass-rape prison is not going to fix that, though. The University of Prison, if he survives, will just equip him to better outwit the police and the courts when he does get out.

IN RESPONSE:

shonangreg
Jul 7, 09 9:33 AM CDT

Sorry, "your heart..." not "you're heart..."

| 0 minutes ago

riffran
Jul 7, 09 10:09 AM CDT

Dude you grammar nazi'd yourself. LOL. :) .......Excellent reply by the way. Lucid and no vitriol. I understand the point. But I can't share it. But still, good reply Reply

| 0 minutes ago

mak
Jul 7, 09 10:12 AM CDT

at least they found out while he was still carving cats-he'll never graduate to people. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

newzjunkie
Jul 8, 09 2:04 AM CDT

We all pray he won't have the opportunity to graduate to people but how can we stop it? I wish there were a simple answer but can't find one.

| 0 minutes ago

ClearSight
Jul 7, 09 10:13 AM CDT

Its well documented fact, that murders like Jeffrey Dahmer tortured small animals first as a child before moving on to larger prey as an adult. This is type of early behavior is common amongst serial killers and mass murders... .... So yes he needs help, but the fact he's done this multiple times warrants some type of long term incarceration. As for the guys who revel in this young mans potential abuse at the hands of hardened homosexual criminals, thats sick in its own right. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

freethemall
Jul 7, 09 11:03 AM CDT

This senile old fool, who repeats himself, and sometimes forgets to take his meds, agrees with you 100% on this subject. Well said!

| 0 minutes ago

ultramagnus21
Jul 7, 09 10:55 AM CDT

From a subjective standpoint, I want to cut the bastard myself, forcefeed him cat litter, and drag what's left of him around on a leash. Objectively, he can rot in prison. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Reader64481089
Jul 7, 09 11:27 AM CDT

Is there a proven treatment for a true Sociopath personality? I have never seen a "cure", they are now aware of this kid and the problems he is capable of causing but to ensure public safety they would then have to remove him from society on a permanent basis and I doubt that would happen of the killing of cats. He belongs in prison in my opinion forever as I do not want to see this guy graduate to murder of small children or adults for that matter. The main malfunction is I know of no long term treatment centers for this type case, even wearing a ankle bracelet to monitor him isn't going to help much. The people such as this guy worry the hell out of law enforcement as most everyone else as many go undetected until they do commit murder. Reply

+10

IN RESPONSE:

riffran
Jul 7, 09 11:39 AM CDT

Scarrrrry as hell ain't it. Makes you wonder just HOW MANY do fly "under the radar". So to speak

IN RESPONSE:

Reader64481089
Jul 7, 09 11:46 AM CDT

Riffran, was attempting to read up on that and by the general "loose" description the so called experts say there are many. They say you probably have several within each of our lives but they go unnoticed as the majority do not go on killing sprees. The "experts" can't even agree on the true meaning of the word is the part that makes me wonder if indeed there could be a treatment for such a person. And you are correct, it is VERY scary on the whole to know people such as this are everywhere including our next door neighbors or "friends" at work

IN RESPONSE:

Deebles
Jul 7, 09 2:33 PM CDT

Psychopaths or sociopaths have damage in all the areas deep under the lobes which house the emote centers. They feel no fear, no joy, nothing and weirdly because it's the same brain location they can't smell anything really offensive. They feel physically what normal humans feel emotionally. Such as sexual arousal thinking of dead cats. It is sad that he was born with this and it isn't his fault but what are you going to do? Inuit tribes would casually push them off the ice and they and most other hunter tribes have zero psychopaths. Genetically we breed them like rabbits because we won't accept that it's not their fault--they won't get better--what should we do? This guy is blatant and dangerous. Most are able to pretend very well that they are really humans. You run into them every day. They only kill you if they have to like Laci Petterson. You can tell if you're facing one if you pay attention to your own body. Your body will respond like it would to any predator--chill up the neck, sweating, heart racing a bit, swallowing a lot. This is how you know who to stay away from. Course a lot of people mistake that for love and marry them.

| 0 minutes ago

rcrc
Jul 7, 09 11:43 AM CDT

"I don't understand. This guy hasn't hurt anyone yet. He has just tortured animals."...so I guess this makes him less of a sick, heartless psycho??? And, torturing animals should be less of a concern?...This f*cked up dude should learn that every animal in nature is a remarkable work of evolution and true survivors; and most importantly, learn to love one the most affectionate species -- cats. Is this at all possible...? Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Reader64481089
Jul 7, 09 11:50 AM CDT

No, he is sick. I just don't think there is an easy answer for if they had an option to feed him to sharks it might get my vote considering it is not treatable. The main problem with prosecution of this clown many states view killing or even torture of an animal as a small time issue and crime and do little, indeed this guy may get probation or perhaps 1 year and a fine, he will be on the streets again in less than a tear which in the end does nothing to stop his problem or illness. This guy will be back in the news in a few years and it is going to be ugly I fear. I honestly hope that isn't the case

IN RESPONSE:

shonangreg
Jul 7, 09 6:36 PM CDT

Imagine this. Since this kind of mental illness appears to be enduring, perhaps even organic, what would you want to do if we could do brain scans and find such people as children BEFORE they ever began their tortures of animals? You can't punish them (and I was saying this above even though the guy has done something...) And it appears they cannot be "fixed". So, rcrc, what's your brilliant idea now? And this is not just some wild, unnatural hypothetical. This kind of testing seems to be quite plausible.

| 0 minutes ago

Derni
Jul 7, 09 11:52 AM CDT

Most young people that KILL or abuse animals tend to develop more serious problems later-and yes, many are what we call sociopaths-he has a futrue on wall street or in politcs-manybe a priest Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Sabrina
Jul 7, 09 11:55 AM CDT

Probably a politician ... now that is scarry

| 0 minutes ago

Derni
Jul 7, 09 11:53 AM CDT

Read the Mask of Sanity its one of the first books on sociopathy and different historical figures and different professionals that became sociopaths Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Deebles
Jul 7, 09 4:35 PM CDT

I have that book and it was the only one for a long time. Until some guy got the great idea to truck an MRI to a prison.

| 0 minutes ago

Sabrina
Jul 7, 09 11:54 AM CDT

Reader64481089 I like what your doing here and have watched you attempt it before attempting to draw people in on an open discussion for ideas to draw from. As for this guy, if it had been one of my cats I would want him in jail forever or if I lived near him I would look at prospects of perhaps relocation? It is a large problem that this kid just is bringing back to the surface, he has no concious and see's nothing wrong in what he did because he can't think that way. Yea, this kid poses a huge problem in the future and others like him as well. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Amber
Jul 7, 09 11:58 AM CDT

I hit a cat with my car once long ago when it ran in front of me and I was sick for a week, how can anyone harm a small animal such as a pet for pleasure is beyond me I just don't understand it but I do not understand many things I guess. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

westcoaster
Jul 7, 09 1:51 PM CDT

a good cat is a dead cat Reply

-8

IN RESPONSE:

hamsammichs
Jul 7, 09 8:34 PM CDT

A good news site poster is one that does not speak from ones ass.

IN RESPONSE:

cetude
Jul 8, 09 8:49 AM CDT

They eat cats in China and skin them alive for fur coats and toys. You wait and see-he will get away with it. All charges dropped-BECAUSE OUR Country is becoming no different than CHINA!

| 0 minutes ago

riffran
Jul 7, 09 4:55 PM CDT

Just to lighten the tone...... I seen a bumper sticker once , it read. "I love cats too.......let's exchange recipes :)". Sorry I couldn't help myself. Rofl. Reply

-2

| 0 minutes ago

BOMBS_OVER_BAGHDAD
Jul 7, 09 5:53 PM CDT

Maybe he is just playing out the life of "Dexter" and he will move onto killing people that "deserve" to be killed. Too bad he already for got rule # 1 of "Harry's Code", don't get caught. Well I'm with most of you here and if it were my pet and I was able to get my hands on him, he wouldn't be harming anything else. The sad fact is that he isn't going to get any hard time. And he will be back on the streets before ya know it. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

anchower
Jul 7, 09 7:30 PM CDT

If you believe in cause and effect, you have to admit that there's no such thing as free will, and so no one is responsible for his or her actions. As such, retribution is not a legitimate aim of criminal justice: Only incapacitation and rehabilitation are. As others have said, this kid should be incapacitated through incarceration and rehabilitated through medicine (or whatever else might work). He should not--and nor should anyone else--be subject to rape or any other violence in prison. The desire for vengeance is not only primitive, it's counterrational. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

metalworldorder
Jul 7, 09 7:51 PM CDT

I've only skimmed this thread, but what does decriminalizing drugs have to do with a guy that kills cats? I think the dude should just get the shit beat out of him. Obviously he thinks he's superior to others, why not show him he's not? Reply

| 0 minutes ago

nikkibong
Jul 7, 09 8:40 PM CDT

Sorry, with the headline, I thought i had clicked onto a Robert Macnamara obit. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

cetude
Jul 8, 09 8:04 AM CDT

I bet you a million dollars this guy will get off light. I bet each cat killing will run concurrently and he get like six months in jail and some probation and that will be the end of it. It's ALWAYS like that. Then he's going to enjoy hearing the sounds of live dissection with humans beings next. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

cetude
Jul 8, 09 8:13 AM CDT

i HONESTLY would be suprised if they convict him. The courts always protect animal abusers. It's like why even bother having such laws. Our country has become just like China. You know what they do to cats there. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

cetude
Jul 8, 09 8:48 AM CDT

You wait and see-he'll get away with it. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

GTORick
Jul 10, 09 2:46 PM CDT

Animal cruelty is often found as a past behavior in many serial kllers bacgrounds. This guy will never be safe outside of a cage. He needs locked up immediately and permanently. Unfortunately, his sickness is usually not curable and gets worse with time. If he does get freedom he needs watched and he better cross his fingers that he doesn't run into me. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Shannonals
Jul 25, 09 2:07 PM CDT

This child is a sociopath, and I hope they keep him locked up. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

View all 52 comments »

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Cat-Carving Teenager a Sociopath: Detectives

Fla. Man Nabbed for
Child Porn: My Cat Did It

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Cats Are Left
or Right-Pawed

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Unrepentant
Teen Cops to
Baking Cat to Death

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Fla. Man Nabbed for Child Porn: My Cat Did It

MORE ABOUT: Florida • Internet • child pornography • computer • cat • pet owners • criminal charges • keyboard

Cats Are Left or Right-Pawed

MORE ABOUT: study • research • cat • feline

Unrepentant Teen Cops to Baking Cat to Death

MORE ABOUT: crime • New York • animal cruelty • Bronx • plea bargain • cat • animal • Cheyenne Cherry

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Help

Tools

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What is Newser?

Fla. Man Nabbed for
Child Porn: My Cat Did It

MORE ABOUT:
Florida • Internet • child pornography • computer • cat • pet owners • criminal charges • keyboard

Cats Are Left
or Right-Pawed

MORE ABOUT:
study • research • cat • feline

Unrepentant
Teen Cops to
Baking Cat to Death

MORE ABOUT:
crime • New York • animal cruelty • Bronx • plea bargain • cat • animal • Cheyenne Cherry