Humane Society says man thought about killing friend, mom; killed cat instead

El Paso County Animal Law Enforcement says they responded to a home in the Briargate area in September. The reason is disturbing. A woman allegedly told them she found her cat, dead in a paper gift bag.

According to arrest papers obtained by 11 News, the woman’s son, 18-year-old Cohen Heath, allegedly killed the cat in a brutal manner. He allegedly told investigators he was on meth and was hearing voices in his head. Those voices told him he had to kill something. Arrest papers go on to say Heath wanted to kill his friend who was sleeping over at his house and then his mom. Allegedly he decided the cat would be easier to kill.

Heath told investigators he went to a drainage ditch near his home so that no one could see him. He allegedly stabbed the cat several times before placing it into a backpack to muffle any sound the cat might make. According to arrest papers he then took the cat out of the backpack and decided to cut off a front paw because he wanted to make a necklace out of it. Court papers state Heath skinned the cat and put it in a Ziploc bag and placed the paw in a glass jar.

Arrest papers go on to say when Heath’s mother began to worry about the cat, he told her the animal had gotten out through the front door and disappeared. He told investigators his mother and friend spent hours looking for the cat and he thought it was “kind of funny” to watch them look for the cat when he allegedly knew it was dead.

When Animal Law Enforcement got to the home they allegedly found the mother with a paper gift bag taped shut with what appeared to be remains of the cat inside. Arrest papers say the mother then showed investigators her son’s room where he had a satchel full of knives.

According to Animal Law Enforcement, when they recovered the knives they found blood and fur on them.

Heath was arrested and taken to the El Paso County Jail. He posted bond on October 2nd. He’s facing charges of aggravated cruelty to animals which is a felony.