3.3K views Feb 2009
A news report covers a viral video of a teenager abusing a cat in a bathroom, the investigation to identify those involved, and the cat's recovery at a vet.
0:00 When a teenager was filmed beating and torturing a cat. The video was then uploaded to YouTube, where it was watched about 30,000 times this weekend. 0:09 As you can imagine, it has created an uproar on the internet. 0:13 Our phones here at 7 News have been ringing all day from people all over the nation who could not believe what they were seeing online. 0:20 7 News Night Side reporter Robert Richardson took a number of those calls and has been sifting through thousands of posts on the internet. 0:26 Robert. 0:27 Yes, Monty, people called us from across the country as they read online that the abuse happened in Lawton. 0:33 YouTube deleted the video and the uploader's account earlier today, but I was able to track down a copy. 0:38 Due to its graphic nature, we will only show edited portions of the video. 0:44 Today's topic is animal abuse. Hey, who are you? 0:48 Timmy. 0:49 Oh. 0:49 Some people know me as the animal abuser. 0:52 Ah, so what do you have to show us, Timmy? 0:54 Oh, come this way to my friend. 0:55 Oh, let's go. 0:56 The teenager calls himself Timmy and leads his camera operating friend into a bathroom, which he calls his laboratory. 1:02 Trapped inside the shower is a cat, which the boy then picks up by his neck and slams against the wall and floor before striking it with fists. 1:11 Sheriff Kenny Stradley came to our station to watch the video for the first time, and it put him at a loss for words. 1:17 This is not a good deal. I, uh... 1:21 Well, it's just... 1:25 I have a lot of feelings for animals, and so to see something like this really bothers me. 1:30 Um, there's no use in treating an animal like that. 1:34 And the beating of the cat continued for over a minute as the kid yelled and the cat screamed for escape. 1:41 You, you, me, me. 1:44 People connected the user's YouTube name and information with info from other popular websites, including Facebook and MySpace, matching pictures posted by a teen in Lawton to parts of the video. 1:55 That's when we and local authorities began receiving calls. 1:58 At this time, it appears that it is here, uh, in Lawton. Uh, we've got, like I say, we're just at the beginning of this, but it's looking like it is out of from, uh, Comanche County. 2:08 The video ends with the cameraman encouraging his friend to turn on the shower while holding the cat up by his neck. 2:18 Fortunately, the day was finally over for the cat, but it's just getting started for the abusers. 2:23 We'll put it together and we'll take it to the DA, and it'll be up to the DA whether or not he files charges or not, but our job is to put the investigation together as a case and then take it to the DA, 2:34 and that's what we'll do. 2:36 Sheriff Stradley called us just before news time, and he says they have identified both of the teens responsible. 2:42 They were released to their parents' custody by the district attorney, but Stradley says they and their lawyer will meet with investigators on Tuesday. 2:49 Also, the cat Dusty is alive. It was taken to a vet where it will stay until the investigation is complete. 2:56 All right, thank you, Robert. Well, tonight we can tell you this story has set a new record for our website at kswo.com. 3:04 In just 3 hours, it has been viewed more than 10,000 times. You can count on 7 News to keep following this story, and we'll be the first to tell you about any charges brought against the teens. 
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