Law enforcement officials in Lee County, Florida have arrested a 48-year-old Fort Myers man on charges of aggravated animal cruelty following allegations that he killed two family kittens and injured a third as a means of punishing his teenage daughter.
David Charette Jr. was taken into custody this week after deputies responded to a residence in Pine Manor following reports that a man was attempting to drown and strike a two-month-old kitten. Body camera footage released by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office documents the arrest and subsequent investigation.
According to witness statements provided to law enforcement, Charette allegedly abused and killed the family’s kittens in front of his teenage daughter whenever she “acted up.” The disturbing pattern of behavior reportedly extended over the course of a year, involving three separate animals.
When confronted by deputies at the scene, Charette defended his treatment of the most recent victim, a kitten named Luna. The body camera footage captures him telling officers that the animal was in “perfectly healthy condition” and that he was merely bathing the kitten because it had soiled itself in its cage.
“It’s covered in crap and I have to give it a bath, and it cries, and she doesn’t like that,” Charette told the responding deputies.
Sheriff Carmine Marceno addressed the gravity of the allegations, particularly the psychological impact on Charette’s daughter. The use of animal cruelty as a disciplinary tool against a child represents a deeply troubling dimension to this case.
Investigators subsequently uncovered evidence of two prior incidents. In June of the previous year, Charette allegedly smothered a one-month-old kitten using a rag soaked in bleach. In a separate incident, authorities say he killed a three-month-old kitten with a blow-dryer.
Both deceased animals had been buried in the backyard of the residence. During their search of the property, investigators successfully recovered one of the remains, though the second could not be located.
The surviving kitten, Luna, was transported to a local animal hospital for medical treatment and is currently recovering from her injuries.
This case raises serious questions not only about animal welfare but about the environment in which Charette’s daughter has been living. The deliberate killing of beloved pets as a form of punishment represents a particularly cruel form of psychological abuse, one that mental health professionals recognize as deeply traumatic for young people.
Charette now faces charges of aggravated animal cruelty, a serious offense under Florida law. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to build their case and ensure the safety of all parties involved.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has not released information regarding any additional charges that may be filed or whether child welfare authorities have become involved in the case.
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