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Authorities in Lee County arrested a 48-year-old man this week on allegations he killed his family’s kittens as a form of discipline directed at his teenage daughter. David Charette Jr. faces charges of aggravated animal cruelty following an investigation that began when deputies responded to a Pine Manor residence after receiving reports of a man attempting to drown and strike a two-month-old kitten named Luna.
According to law enforcement, Charette killed two kittens and injured a third while his daughter witnessed the acts. Witnesses told deputies that the man engaged in animal abuse when his daughter “acted up,” using the killings as a punishment mechanism. Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno characterized the case as particularly disturbing due to the alleged psychological impact on the child.
Body camera footage captured Charette telling deputies that Luna was in good health and that he was bathing the animal because of sanitation issues. The kitten allegedly cried during the bathing process, according to his account presented to investigators. Charette maintained that such care was necessary for the animal’s well-being.
Investigators subsequently discovered that Charette had allegedly killed two additional kittens over the previous year in separate incidents. In June, he allegedly smothered a one-month-old kitten with a bleach-soaked cloth, while in another instance he purportedly killed a three-month-old kitten using a blow-dryer, according to the sheriff’s office. Both animals were buried in the backyard, though investigators recovered only one during a property search.
Luna received treatment at a local animal hospital and is recovering from injuries sustained during the incident. The case remains under investigation as authorities assess additional allegations related to animal treatment in the household.
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