Alleged ‘serial cat killer' arrested in California
An alleged serial cat killer has been arrested in California over claims that he abducted and slaughtered more than a dozen cats.
Alejandro Acosta Oliveros, 45, was taken into custody on Wednesday by police in the city of Santa Ana, 30 miles south of Los Angeles. He has been charged with felony animal cruelty.
Oliveros was identified as a suspect after an investigation into more than a dozen reports of neighbourhood cats going missing. Police claim he abducted the animals or lured them to his home in the neighbourhood of Wilshire Square, where he allegedly tortured and killed them.
Last month the abduction of a ten-month-old Bengal lynx cat, Clubber, was captured on surveillance video and posted to Facebook by its owner, Eva Corlew.
The
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Los Angeles cops scramble to delete 'embarrassing and offensive' post about Iran strikes: 'How is this real?'
Los Angeles cops have scrambled to delete a bizarre social media post about the conflict in Iran after it was widely slammed as 'embarrassing' and 'offensive'. The LA County Sheriff's Department expressed condolences for the 'tragic' US bombing of Iranian nuclear sites on Sunday in a since-censored post. 'Our hearts go out to the victims and families impacted by the recent bombings in Iran,' the post on X stated. 'While this tragic event happened overseas, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is closely monitoring the situation alongside our local, state and federal partners.' Social media users were quick to slam the post as out-of-touch with public sentiment, and disrespectful to the Jewish community. Many people also questioned why a local sheriff's department was getting involved in international politics, particularly after facing heavy criticism for allowing anti-ICE and 'No Kings' riots to spiral out of control in LA just weeks ago. 'We sincerely hope your account was hacked,' a non-profit group called Stop Antisemitism wrote in response to the controversial post. 'There were no victims in last night's successful targeting of Iran's nuclear sites.' A non-profit group called Stop Antisemitism were among those who called out the post One X user slammed the post as 'PATHETIC and DISGUSTING'. 'Your "hearts are with the people of Iran". Did you put that statement out EVERY time the people of Israel got bombed?' they fumed. 'No wonder your city and state is a CESSPOOL.' 'As a 31 year veteran of a Big City Police Department, I have to say that your initial post, calling the bombing of Iranian nuclear sites a 'tragic event', was beyond embarrassing,' another person wrote. 'Since when do LE agencies comment on national defense, or foreign policy issues? Try policing LA.' The sheriff's office promptly deleted the post and issued a lengthy apology. 'We are issuing this statement to formally apologize for an offensive and inappropriate social media post recently posted on our Department social media platforms regarding the ongoing conflict in Iran. 'This post was unacceptable, made in error, and does not reflect the views of Sheriff Robert G. Luna or the Department. 'As a law enforcement agency, we do not comment on foreign policy or military matters. Our mission remains solely focused on protecting public safety and serving our diverse communities.' The sheriff's office promptly deleted the post and issued a lengthy apology (shown above) The department said it has 'launched an internal review to determine how it was created and published'. 'Steps are being taken to strengthen our social media oversight protocols and ensure that any future communications align with our Department's standards of professionalism, respect, and accountability,' they added. But X users weren't satisfied, and many doubled down on their criticism of the department. 'I do not accept your apology,' one person wrote. 'The offensive post regarding the situation in Iran was deeply disrespectful, especially given the significant Jewish community of over half a million in Los Angeles. 'An internal review and updated protocols are insufficient to address the harm caused. 'True accountability and respect must be demonstrated through meaningful action, not just words. 'I urge you to engage with the community to rebuild the trust you've broken.' 'Someone needs to be removed from your social media team and reprimanded. It was totally unacceptable post! In the private world, they'd be fired,' another person said. 'DID YOU APOLOGIZE TO THE JEWISH COMMUNITY?' a third X user commented. 'I didn't see that here.' X users said the sheriff's office should focus on the chaos in their own backyard instead of getting involved in international issues. LA law enforcement officials are under the microscope for their handling of anti-ICE riots in the city which spiraled out of control on June 6. Demonstrations were initially peaceful, but they escalated into lawlessness and violence when some protestors lit vehicles on fire and looted stores. Police and local politicians were heavily criticized for failing to preserve the peace. On June 14, the protests spread nationwide with 2,000 rallies organized across all 50 states by 'No Kings', a group which says it opposes 'authoritarianism, billionaire-first politics, and the militarization of our democracy'. Trump entered the conflict between Israel and Iran on Saturday night by using American warplanes to target Iranian facilities in Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan. Known as Operation Midnight Hammer, the strike involved more than 125 US military aircraft, along with submarines. Iran has warned that there will be repercussions, and Trump hit back by saying that any retaliation would be met with 'even greater force than what was unleashed today'. The Middle Eastern country launched more missiles on Tel Aviv in Israel on Sunday morning, and Iran's Houthi allies in Yemen also said they would join the retaliation. There have already been hundreds of casualties. Iran's health ministry said Israeli strikes killed at least 400 people and injured 3,000, while at least 24 people in Israel have died in missile strikes from Iran. The conflict escalated 10 days ago when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched attacks on Iran's nuclear and military strikes. Israel first warned people in Tehran's District 18, which comprises military buildings and residential neighborhoods, to evacuate. Hours later, the first volley of strikes were reported in the area. Netanyahu said the attacks, called Operation Rising Lion, targeted Iran's nuclear program. 'If not stopped, Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in a very short time,' Netanyahu said. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Israel 'should anticipate a severe punishment', while its foreign minister called the strikes a 'declaration of war'.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE I know exactly who killed my brother but the system is broken... justice still hasn't been served after 3 years
A Fox News host, whose brother was fatally gunned down on the streets of Chicago nearly three years ago, revealed what he believes led to the tragic killing in an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail. In June 2022, political analyst Gianno Caldwell lost his 18-year-old brother, Christian, to what he described as 'senseless gun violence' on the streets of their hometown in South Side Chicago.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Channel Seven star Alissa Ballin reveals her horrific encounter with a knife-wielding man while doing a live cross - and opens up about her marriage to a footy great
Channel Seven reporter Alissa Ballin has opened up about the terrifying encounter with a knife-wielding man in Los Angeles that left her fearing for her life. Ballin, who was covering the NRL season opener in the US, was minutes away from a live cross when a stranger approached her and her cameraman on Santa Monica Beach near Los Angeles around midnight in March last year. The man accused the pair of damaging his car before suddenly producing a knife. He also had a bird perched on his shoulder, adding to the surreal nature of the confrontation. Ballin and her cameraman remained calm as they tried to talk the man down. 'We were ready to cross live. I had my earpiece in and was just moments away from beaming back into viewers' living rooms,' she told News Corp. 'With his pet bird sitting on his shoulder, he abruptly approached my cameraman and I with a knife and threatened us and asked us to leave the area. 'The thought that he pulled a knife so quickly and easily made us wonder what else he was carrying.' That terrifying confrontation made the reality of working overseas hit hard. 'We were simply naive,' Ballin said. 'This is a great city but it's a dangerous city after dark if you get off the bright lights in isolated areas.' The standoff lasted several minutes but felt like much longer. Eventually, the man backed away, and Ballin was able to proceed with her cross. Viewers at home had no idea the drama had unfolded just moments earlier. 'I'm just relieved we came out in one piece,' she said. Highlighting her composure under incredible duress, Ballin quietly whispered into her mic, 'He's got a knife, he's got a knife,' hoping studio producers would hear. Her poise under pressure has since been praised by Channel Seven executives, and police later tracked down the man. Another Australian news crew in California was also involved in a frightening incident that same week. A separate TV journalist and their crew were cornered by three vehicles during a shoot in Westlake Village. They feared for their lives until one crew member made a phone call that appeared to scare off the suspects. 'It was the most terrifying experience of my life, I genuinely thought I was going to die,' the reporter said. Away from the spotlight, Ballin's personal life is deeply rooted in rugby league. Her husband is former Manly Sea Eagles star and current Queensland State of Origin assistant coach Matt Ballin, who debuted in the NRL in 2007, playing more than 200 games and winning premierships in 2008 and 2011. He also represented Queensland in 2010 and later joined the Wests Tigers before retiring in 2017. Footy plays a central role in the Ballin household and the couple's professional lives 'Last season, when it was announced he would succeed Cameron Smith as Maroons assistant coach, I was fortunate enough to present that story on air that night,' Alissa said. She also hosted Queensland's State of Origin launch, interviewing Matt on a panel alongside Billy Slater and Johnathan Thurston. 'Every now and then, he appears in some of the stories I present and report on at work,' she said. Their shared love of footy runs deep. 'We both watch every single game of footy across every weekend,' she said. 'It would be strange for anything else to be on our TV at home other than footy.' However, the couple have found a healthy boundary between work and home. 'There's an unspoken respect between us, where I don't ask questions about the inner workings of his footy club, and he doesn't tell,' she said. During State of Origin camps, Matt is fully immersed in his role. 'Origin is a huge time and emotional commitment,' Alissa said. 'Matt puts in so much time and effort to help prepare the Qld players to play their best.' She revealed Matt took the game one loss hard after NSW crushed the Maroons at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. 'But it's those losses that drive him,' she said. After Queensland's gritty Game Two win, Matt was visibly more at ease.
