THURSTON COUNTY, Wash. — In August, neighbors began organizing citizen patrols to search for a serial cat killer in Washington state.
Reports were coming nearly weekly from law enforcement officials; the number of cats killed in Thurston County grew.
On September 5, the tally was 13.
The cats were found mutilated, killed and displayed.
In mid-August, when the number grew to eight after a kitten was beheaded near Lacey, Thurston County animal cruelty investigator Erika Johnson said, "He or she is displaying these cats after they're mutilated, so that's obviously some sort of sick, perverse pleasure."
Jenn Beausoleil-Mason and Jason Cox, who live near Olympia, started a Facebook group called Taking Olympia Back.
"The group was formed in response to the serial cat killings so that we could form more local efforts. At the time the group was started, there wasn't any," Beausoleil-Mason and Cox said. "It's very scary and worrisome for all the pet owners out there."
At the end of August, a Thurston County Sheriff's Office major crimes detective was assigned to investigate the killings.
The mutilated cat bodies were found by a Methodist church in Lacey, by a worker cutting grass in an open field, by police patrolling an RV park, laid out in an Olympia park and in other busy, public spaces.
A reward for information leading to the killer reached $53,000.
“An animal can’t speak, it can’t scream. And it’s a vulnerable victim,” investigator Erika Johnson said.
Jason Cox designed a logo for Taking Olympia Back showing the Washington State Capitol building near a black cat. The cat's tail curls under paws; it's outlined in deep red.
"Take back the community," a sign reads in the logo, flanked by two line-drawn residents.
Thurston County Lt. Tim Rudloff said the Thurston County Sheriff's Department doesn't advocate for organized citizen patrols.
"However," Lt. Rudloff said. "In the event such groups have organized, we would ask that citizens not put themselves in harm's way and to immediately call 911 if and when they have seen suspicious, related activity."
Lt. Rudloff said citizens should never put themselves in a dangerous situation. That means they should never directly approach or confront someone they believe is involved in criminal activity.
If anyone does have information, Lt. Rudloff asks that they call the tip line at (360) 352-2510.
Also, "pets should be kept indoors for now or carefully supervised outdoors," Rudloff said.
For citizen patrol organizers, the cat killings are personal.
Beausoleil-Mason has a friendly cat named Rocket that loves the outdoors. Rocket's been staying with other family so she can live indoors.
Cox has two dogs, Nico and Abigail.
Nico and Abigail are friendly and excitable; they help Cox during his patrols.
Cox patrols neighborhoods around where he lives nightly. More volunteers are joining every day, Cox said.
Some participants patrol solo and report back to the group or organizers. The organizers share their findings regularly with law enforcement.
What are citizen patrols out looking for?
"Anything out of the ordinary: From a car you don't normally see to a person snatching a cat. Anything people feel is not normal for their area," Beausoleil-Mason and Cox said.
The two say they want their town to be a better place, "a happier place."
And the organizers with Taking Olympia Back have a message for the cat killer:
"Just please stop! Whatever neighborhoods and location you are, Jason is there waiting, hoping to catch you."
Investigator Johnson spoke on a link between animal cruelty and human abuse.
"It's historically been found that people who abuse humans in one way or the other have started out on animals,” said Johnson.
Steve Fogg, a former King County prosecuting attorney who spent years putting murderers behind bars, echoed Johnson's assertion.
“I’ve prosecuted a number of psychopaths and killers, and one thing that is shockingly common ... is animal abuse,” Fogg said.
In August, KIRO 7's Shelby Miller spoke with Angi Swan, an owner of one the cats that was found dead.
Swan's cat, Callie, disappeared in early July.
Callie, 2 years old, was found mutilated in Decatur Woods Park in Olympia.
Swan said the killer is tearing families apart.
"I don't know what's wrong with them," Swan said. "But they need to be stopped."
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- Do you have an investigative story tip? Send us an email at investigate@kiro7.com
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