By: Jennifer Baileys - Jbaileys@Fox41.com
LOUISVILLE, KY (WDRB, FOX41) - Police make another disturbing discovery of more remains of mutilated cats in our area.
Investigators say all the dead cats found over the last month have similarities including the gruesome way they were tortured.
"I've been a policeman for 20 years and this is the first where the injuries to the animal were that significant," said Sgt. Troy Thompson, Louisville Metro Police Department Seventh Division.
The injuries to the cats are so gruesome, the pictures cannot be shown on TV. Sgt. Thompson and Bullitt County Detective Tim Waters both describe the remains as horrific.
"They were stabbed multiple times and their intestines were out. Pretty extensive injuries," said Thompson.
"Bound and mutilated in the same fashion as the other cats with the abdomens cut open," said Waters.
The first few dead cats were found in December. The remains were found in a grassy area behind the Kroger on Preston Highway and Mud Lane.
Investigators found two more dead cats in a field in Hillview a few miles from the first location.
"He said he did it for medical research," Thompson said.
A caller from the LMPD Tip Line gave Seventh Division detectives enough information to question 24 year old Alex Phelps. Investigators say he admitted to killing the cats found in December. Cats investigators say were once free to a good home.
"He did get two off of Craigslist that we know of possibly more," Thompson said.
Investigators say detectives found more evidence of the crimes in Phelps' Shepherdsville home. He has been charged in Metro Louisville with four counts of torturing a cat and could face similar charges in Bullitt County by the end of the week.
"At this point we're hoping to be able to take those remains either tomorrow or Wednesday down to the medical examiners office," Waters said.
Investigators are hoping the coroner can determine if the cats in Bullitt County died in the same manor those in Louisville were killed.
Police are still looking for people with information on this case.
Tips should be called in to LMPD at 574-LMPD and Bullitt County at 543-2514.
