{"id":34075,"date":"2026-08-09T06:44:52","date_gmt":"2026-08-09T01:44:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=34075"},"modified":"2026-08-09T06:44:52","modified_gmt":"2026-08-09T01:44:52","slug":"florida-man-accused-of-killing-kittens-as-teen-daughters-punishment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=34075","title":{"rendered":"Florida man accused of killing kittens as teen daughter&#8217;s punishment"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div id=\"beyondwords-wrapper\" data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"beyondwords-wrapper\">\n<p><span class=\"label-bg\">NEW<\/span>You can now listen to Fox News articles!\n  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"speakable\">A <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_413309\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/us\/us-regions\/southeast\/florida\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Florida<\/a> father was arrested this week for allegedly killing the family&#8217;s kittens in front of his teenage daughter as a form of punishment, authorities said.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"speakable\">Bodycam video released by the Lee County Sheriff&#8217;s Office shows deputies responding to a home in Pine Manor after receiving a report that a man was attempting to drown and strike a two-month-old kitten named Luna.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">David Charette Jr., 48, was arrested and charged with <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_413310\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/entertainment\/genres\/crime\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">aggravated animal cruelty<\/a> after authorities accused him of killing two kittens and injuring a third.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Witnesses told deputies that Charette allegedly abused and killed the family&#8217;s kittens in front of his teenage daughter as a form of punishment when she &#8220;acted up.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_413311\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/deeply-disturbing-animal-cruelty-operation-involving-baby-monkeys-busted-ice-investigation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>&#8216;DEEPLY DISTURBING&#8217; ANIMAL CRUELTY OPERATION INVOLVING BABY MONKEYS BUSTED BY ICE INVESTIGATION<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/343\/192\/david-charette-lee-county-bodycam.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/686\/384\/david-charette-lee-county-bodycam.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/672\/378\/david-charette-lee-county-bodycam.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1344\/756\/david-charette-lee-county-bodycam.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/931\/523\/david-charette-lee-county-bodycam.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1862\/1046\/david-charette-lee-county-bodycam.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/720\/405\/david-charette-lee-county-bodycam.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1440\/810\/david-charette-lee-county-bodycam.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1200\/675\/david-charette-lee-county-bodycam.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"David Charette Jr. speaking with Lee County deputies\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Body camera footage shows David Charette Jr. speaking with Lee County deputies after authorities responded to allegations of animal cruelty at a home in Pine Manor, Fla.<\/span> <span>(Lee County Sheriff&#8217;s Office)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Charette defended his treatment of Luna while speaking with deputies in the <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_413312\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/trans-college-student-melts-down-over-pronouns-new-viral-bodycam-footage-just-say-she\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">body camera video<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;The cat is in perfectly healthy condition,&#8221; Charette told deputies. &#8220;I have to give the cat a bath because it soils itself in the cage.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;It&#8217;s covered in crap and I have to give it a bath, and it cries, and she doesn&#8217;t like that,&#8221; he added.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said the allegations involving Charette&#8217;s daughter made the case particularly disturbing.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_413313\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/us\/florida-mail-carrier-accused-snatching-pets-route-trapping-100-plus-cats-dogs-hoarding-house\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>FLORIDA MAIL CARRIER ACCUSED OF SNATCHING PETS ON ROUTE, TRAPPING 100-PLUS CATS AND DOGS IN \u2018HOARDING\u2019 HOUSE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/luna-kitten-lee-county-florida.gif, https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/luna-kitten-lee-county-florida.gif 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/luna-kitten-lee-county-florida.gif, https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/luna-kitten-lee-county-florida.gif 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/luna-kitten-lee-county-florida.gif, https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/luna-kitten-lee-county-florida.gif 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/luna-kitten-lee-county-florida.gif, https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/luna-kitten-lee-county-florida.gif 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/luna-kitten-lee-county-florida.gif\" alt=\"A 2-month-old kitten named Luna\" width=\"2026\" height=\"08\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>A 2-month-old kitten named Luna was taken to a local animal hospital for treatment and is recovering after an alleged animal cruelty incident, authorities said.<\/span> <span>(Lee County Sheriff&#8217;s Office)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;A daughter says that when she acts up or when she&#8217;s in trouble, her father kills her kittens. This is sickening to me,&#8221; Marceno told CBS affiliate WINK.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_413314\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/politics\/finance\/investigations\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Investigators<\/a> said they later learned Charette had allegedly killed two other kittens over the previous year.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">In June, Charette allegedly smothered a one-month-old kitten with a bleach-soaked rag, according to the sheriff&#8217;s office.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">In a separate incident, investigators said Charette allegedly killed a three-month-old kitten with a blow-dryer.<\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/343\/192\/david-charette-jr-animal-cruelty-mugshot.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/686\/384\/david-charette-jr-animal-cruelty-mugshot.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/672\/378\/david-charette-jr-animal-cruelty-mugshot.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1344\/756\/david-charette-jr-animal-cruelty-mugshot.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/931\/523\/david-charette-jr-animal-cruelty-mugshot.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1862\/1046\/david-charette-jr-animal-cruelty-mugshot.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/720\/405\/david-charette-jr-animal-cruelty-mugshot.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1440\/810\/david-charette-jr-animal-cruelty-mugshot.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1200\/675\/david-charette-jr-animal-cruelty-mugshot.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"David Charette Jr.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>David Charette Jr., 48, was arrested and charged with aggravated animal cruelty after authorities accused him of killing two kittens and injuring a third.<\/span> <span>(Lee County Sheriff&#8217;s Office)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Authorities said both kittens had been buried in the backyard, but investigators recovered only one during a search of the property.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a href=\"https:\/\/foxnews.onelink.me\/xLDS?pid=AppArticleLink&amp;af_dp=foxnewsaf%3A%2F%2F&amp;af_web_dp=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fapps-products\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Luna was taken to a local animal hospital for treatment and is recovering, according to the sheriff&#8217;s office.<\/p>\n<p> <!----> <!----> <\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! A Florida father was arrested this week for allegedly killing the family&#8217;s kittens in front of his teenage daughter as a form of punishment, authorities said. Bodycam video released by the Lee County Sheriff&#8217;s Office shows deputies responding to a home in Pine Manor after receiving a&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":34076,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/luna-kitten-lee-county-florida.gif","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34075","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-hub"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34075","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=34075"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34075\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/34076"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=34075"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=34075"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=34075"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}