01 September 2023 , 15:36
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A sick and twisted 19-year-old has pleaded guilty to killing animals at a local pet store after he brutally killed at least three animals, including stomping on a hamster and strangling a bunny.
Oklahoma teen Christopher Jameson pleaded guilty on Tuesday, August 19, to one count of felony cruelty to animals, one count of larceny of merchandise from a retailer, and one count of offences pertaining to animals. He has been ordered to attend a mental health treatment facility.
The teen visited a Petland store near Memorial and Penn in Oklahoma City on July 16, where he carried out the heartless massacre. He broke the neck of a parakeet, strangled a bunny and stomped on a hamster in the parking lot, while the fate of a missing guinea pig remains unknown.
The teen broke the neck of a parakeet as well as strangling a bunny and stomping on a hamster (Google Maps)Having pleaded guilty on Tuesday, Jameson's sentencing was postponed until March 6, 2024, so he can complete an in-custody Regimented Inmate Discipline (RID) programme and then inpatient mental health treatment. If he is successful in completing the programme, his sentencing will be deferred for another seven years.
However, if he is unsuccessful in completing the treatment programme, his plea will go down as a blind plea deal to the court. Bond has been denied for the teen, according to KOKH Fox25 News.
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The shocking and violent crime was captured on the store's camera. Still photos and clips captured shortly after revealed a male and female in what seemed to be an upbeat mood, despite the savage nature of their alleged crimes.
The Oklahoma Police Department posted a picture of the pair on their Facebook on July 25. They said they were searching for the duo in connection to the horrific acts of animal cruelty.
Jameson and a female were seen looking jovial on camera at the time of the killings (Oklahoma City Police Department)Officers revealed the man, later identified as Jameson, had been the one to carry out the brutal killings, as the woman seen in the footage kept watch. The woman's identity is yet to be revealed.
Jameson turned himself in to the authorities on July 29 after an arrest warrant was issued the day before. Pet lovers took to social media to share their outrage at the actions of the animal cruelty suspects.
In one post sharing the footage, commenters called the pair "serial killers in the making". One person wrote: "Serial killers in the making! Sick and cruel!"
The brutal killings took place at a Petland in Oklahoma City (Google Maps)Another said: "It always start[s] with small vulnerable animals then, they want to know what it would feel like to do the same thing to a human. They need mental health help asap no jail straight to Venita!"
One person said: "No telling how many puppies or kittens they've killed in private if they're capable of doing this in public", while others called them "sickos", and "cold hearted killers in the making".
Carl Swanson, owner of the Petland store, told Fox25 he had never seen such an incident in his life. He said: "The attack on the three innocent animals came out of nowhere. It was terrible for my staff and my employees."
He added: "We are heartbroken. They did it quick because we always have workers on the floor to help."