Reptiles stolen, killed

**Merlin** · #1 09-13-2006, 10:27 PM

This was posted on another list I belong to. We are spreading the news in hopes that someone will happen to know something that will bring these people to justice.
This outrageous act just leaves me speechless.

Quote:

Reptiles stolen, killed
By Jason Gibbs Sun-News reporter

Las Cruces Sun-News LAS CRUCES - Gloria was stabbed in the neck during a home invasion late Sunday. Now, those closest to her hope she will survive and return to her job educating area children about reptiles. Her survival is more than her caretaker expected after he found her - and several of her housemates - bleeding, wounded or dead Monday morning. Many of her companions weren't so lucky. At last count, there are at least five dead and a dozen missing - many of them just babies. When Doña Ana County Sheriff's
officers found Gloria, a 10-foot-long albino Burmese python who has served as the poster-python for Las Cruces Reptile Rescue for the past three years, they thought she was a goner. When she began to show signs of life, it provided a bright spot in what was otherwise a dismal day for the shelter program's director. "She's my baby," said Mike Daniels, director of the reptile rescue program. "She's like one of my kids. It was just a huge sigh of relief when she was alive. When I went in, she was covered in blood." Daniels' home, where several rescued reptiles were housed, was burglarized and
vandalized sometime between 8 p.m. Sunday and around 9 a.m. Monday, when he arrived home after working his shift as a Las Cruces firefighter, he said.
Several reptiles were killed, including one reticulated python, two gray-banded king snakes, a bearded dragon (an Australian lizard) and a round-tail horned lizard. Other animals were missing, including two baby Burmese pythons, six corn snakes and five milk snakes. The animals, most of which have been rescued by the organization, were the apparent target of the attack, Daniels said.
Several were killed, others wounded, and their container cages were smashed. During the break-in, Daniels also lost a mountain bike, several DVD's and a digital camera in addition to having his home trashed. "This is just ridiculous," said former rescue director Roy Thibodeau as he stood outside Daniels' home, nestled in the Organ foothills near N.M. Highway 70.
"We poured our heart and soul into this for six years. Now, to have someone come in and do this, we're just devastated." After finding the destruction, Daniels spent the better part of Monday afternoon packing up his belongings and looking for a place to stay for the next few days. The haven he and his reptiles called home will be boarded up, abandoned, no longer a place of safe refuge, he said. It's just another episode in what neighbor Cecilia Belmontez characterized as increasing activity by unsupervised teenagers roaming the
neighborhood. Belmontez said there has been a recent spike in graffiti in the neighborhood, and a growing reluctance among the older residents to speak out for fear of retaliation. Robin Gojkovich, the sheriff's department investigator in charge of the crime scene, said officers were able to lift "several" fingerprints that they will compare to databases in hopes of catching the criminals.
Other evidence was collected at the scene that could lead to the arrest and prosecution of the culprits, she said. When caught, the offenders face charges of conspiracy to commit residential burglary, residential burglary, criminal damage to property greater than $1,000 and larceny. Those are just the first charges that may be filed, Gojkovich said. She is consulting with the district attorney's office and federal officials to see if additional charges may be leveled. In addition, state officials may pursue criminal and civil damages against the criminals because two of the animals killed are listed on the state endangered species register. Under the state wildlife conservation act, those found guilty of the crime could face up to $1,000 fine and six months in jail for each of the two endangered animals killed. Additionally, they could be sued in civil court for their actions, up to another $1,000. Meanwhile, Daniels plans to continue his work to rescue reptiles and educate the public about their important role in the ecosystem while he hopes for Gloria's recovery. "She was suffering all night long," he said. "But they didn't crush her skull. She's alive. We'll start anew." Jason Gibbs can be reached at jgibbs@lcsun- news.com You can help If you have any information about this break-in, please call the Doña Ana County Sheriff's Office at 525-1911. Get involved Donations of time, supplies or financial support to help Las Cruces Reptile Rescue can be made by calling the program director, Mike Daniels, at 312-3208 or former director Roy Thibodeau at 496-8111 On the Net Learn more about Las Cruces Reptile Rescue at www.awesomereptiles .com

**kenman1963** · #2 09-13-2006, 10:33 PM

WHat a shame, the frustration that poor man must feel. I hope when they catch the criminals they add even more animal cruelty charges against them.

What a waste.

**mshrmheadcharge** · #3 09-13-2006, 11:18 PM

Thats horrible!

**Moshpitrockchick** · #4 09-14-2006, 02:47 AM

Terrible! I hope they catch the people who did this and punish them to the fullest extent of the law!

**grim** · #5 09-14-2006, 07:47 PM

id have no problems with doing exactly what those kids did to the burmese, to those kids... it is absolutely horrendous that anyone could do that to any animal, i hope those punks are found and I hope it really messes up their lives when they're prosecuted. Cmon justice system, don't let us down find those punks and nail them to walls by their earlobes

**DarkMagician207** · #6 09-14-2006, 08:32 PM

thats horrible! i hope they get exactly what they deserve!!

**MRHickey** · #7 09-15-2006, 02:05 AM

People that abuse animals are just weak feable minded people who can't function without feeling superiority. Unfortunately the only way they feel superior is by taking things out on animals that can't fend for themselves, these people should be taken out and forced to suffer the same way they made the animals suffer. I feel that animal lives are equally as important and valuable as humans, and should be treated as so.

Don't get me wrong, I am an avid hunter, fisherman, and animal keeper, but I believe that there should be regulations, only take what you will use, and raise what you can care for. People who hunt for the sake of hunting and knowingly kill and mame animals for no reason should be sent to a secluded island and left to die, they are not going to be functional members of society, they are of no value to anyone or anything, and they will never amount to anything that will help anything; yet all they will get as punishment is a slap on the wrist and a fine that they probably won't pay anyway, and if they do go to jail, our tax money will be taking care of the useless wastes of good air. I was alway a strong animal rights person, but after seeing what abuse has done to my iguana and dog, I would kill for 15 minutes alone in a room with the people that did the things they did to these animals.

My thoughts and prayers go out to this poor man and his animals, I hope those people that did such hanus things get what is coming to them.

**Rich** · #8 09-15-2006, 03:44 AM

Hello,

Thats a horrible story, and yet, it is one of many. Just this evening I was watching a guy on the news being charged with killing a little girls puppy. He was the families landlord. How someone coul;d justify the killing of an innocent animal is beyond me.

I honestly believe their need to be stiffer punishments for cruelty to animal cases. If someone actually got 5 years in prison, I think they would finally send a message that it won't be tolerated.

Its ashame that these kids can do what they want with little concequence. Where were their parents?

Paleontology! · #9 09-17-2006, 11:56 PM

This is senseless. Makes me feel terrible.

A person in our city put a bag over a dogs head, tied it on with the dogs collar and threw it into a cold lake. The dog, needless to say, didn't make it. The person is still at large.

Radio stations got up in arms about it, as is alot of the city and people are actively searching for the person. I think the punishment should fit the crime. This is NO different than a murder of a helpless person, except with one thing: A dog LOVES it's caregiver to death. Imagine what went through the dogs head if it realized (which it no doubt did) just WHO was behind what was happening to it?

**Ssativa** · #10 09-18-2006, 12:40 AM

Sick.......In a way I hope whoever is responsible suffers and dies from a very painful and agonizingly slow death.........too bad our justice system doesn't work that way..........


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