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Elkhart County, Indiana – Three men are responsible for killing two stray kittens in an unbelievably cruel and inhumane manner. According to the authorities, Travis McKay, John Lipscomb, and Arlin Hochstetler, former Jayco RV Manufacturing employees, put two live kittens in a cardboard box, taped the box closed, and placed the box in a trash compactor, where the “unwanted” felines were crushed to death.
A Middlebury Police Department investigation led to questioning of the three men; one man admitted to cutting off the toe of a cat whose claw got stuck in a cage, another man said “shelters were full” so eliminating the unwanted felines in a trash compactor seemed like a good idea, another said the “nuisance” cats had to be killed in order to prevent them from coming back.
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NONE of the men denied their part in killing these living cats in a truly gruesome manner
The investigation resulted in the three men each being charged with two counts of torturing an animal, a Level 6 felony, on June 9.
In a stunning twist, days later, the charges against all three men were dropped due to a so-called “clerical error.” An ABC News report quotes Elkhart County Prosecutor Vicki Elaine Becker attributing the shocking dismissal to a scrivener’s error found in the Probable Cause Affidavit.
From the news source:
The county prosecutor says that the error attributed a statement to Devon Miller as follows:
“Ptl. Yutzy spoke with Devon Miller, the vice president of operations at Jayco, who indicated the men acted in the company’s best interest by placing the live cats into the trash compactor.”
The alleged statement by VP Miller is now being refuted. Now the prosecutor says there is “no evidence documented in the police investigation to suggest that Mr. Miller endorsed, or approved of, the decisions or the behaviors of the three employees.”
Jayco RV has issued a statement that VP Devon Miller was “misquoted.”
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Regardless of the Vice President’s statement, these three men did NOT deny boxing up unwanted cats and killing them in an unimaginable way. These men MUST be held accountable. If you agree that Travis McKay, John Lipscomb, and Arlin Hochstetler need to be charged, please add your name to the petition and help Animal Victory urge the prosecutor to refile the charges.
Read case summaries at the PDF links below.
Case Summary John Lipscomb.pdf
Case Summary Arlin Hochstetler.pdf
WHY THIS PETITION MATTERS:
We, the undersigned, demand that Travis McKay, John Lipscomb, and Arlin Hochstetler be held accountable for killing these innocent felines in such a cruel, painful manner. These men’s cruel actions must be met with the harshest consequences to ensure that they can never inflict such horror on an animal again. Dismissing felony torture charges against these men over a “clerical” error is absurd! These unwanted cats were killed in a truly inhumane manner, and the men responsible for their suffering and death must face legal repercussions!
Research has consistently shown a strong link between animal cruelty and human violence. Individuals who commit such heinous acts against animals often pose a threat to society as a whole, as animal abuse is frequently a precursor to other violent crimes. Failing to hold these men accountable not only denies justice to the cats who suffered an excruciating death but also endangers the community at large. We must send a clear message that such cruelty will not be tolerated.
Individuals are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law. Animal Victory relies upon the authorities and the court system to determine guilt or innocence.
Note: A scrivener’s error refers to a clerical or typographical error made by the person preparing a document — typically a legal document, contract, or court opinion — that occurs by accident or oversight. Usually, a scrivener’s error does not reflect the true intent of the parties or the court, and it’s often allowed to be corrected once the error is recognized, as long as the correction doesn’t affect substantial rights.
News:
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Whether it’s a one-time or monthly gift, you will provide the support needed for abused animals seeking justice as well as the help needed to raise the bar for animal welfare in the courtroom.
Be their CHAMPION today.
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