A woman who worked as a nurse in Florida has been arrested for animal cruelty. allegedly poisoned Her neighbor's pet.
The victims said they became suspicious after their two cats, Luna and Pancake, died within hours of each other at their home on North Davis Avenue in Lakeland. The cats exhibited similar symptoms, including foaming at the mouth, choking, and being unable to breathe before taking their last breath. They were also in severe pain.
Hours later, their Chihuahua dog named Daisy was found dead along with her eight unborn puppies.
The couple told authorities that their neighbor, Tamesha Knighten, 51, had previously threatened to poison their pets if they came into their yard. She also allegedly yelled at the victim's children who were playing ball outside earlier that day.
Investigators asked Knighten to share security footage from that day, which showed her wearing blue gloves and handling a white Styrofoam bowl containing a white and brown substance. .
“These people lost their beloved pets in the most horrific way.”
They said they found a similar bowl containing poison-laced chicken in a neighbor's yard.
Tests revealed that the pet had been poisoned with phosphates, an insecticide found in pesticides.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd Said Knighten was charged with three counts of felony animal cruelty and one count of placing a poisonous substance in a public place, news outlets announced at a press conference. He said she cannot be charged in connection with the death of her unborn Chihuahua puppy.
“Despite all evidence to the contrary, this suspect repeatedly denied killing his neighbor's pet and even told detectives that he was a nurse and had too much to lose. Now, guess what? These people lost their beloved pet in the most horrific way, and she lost her freedom by going to prison,” Judd said.
“It would take a ruthless person to poison two cats and a pregnant dog,” he concluded. “It's hard to imagine how anyone in the medical field could do something like that.”
Knighten was booked into the Polk County Jail.
Reports regarding the arrest are as follows:
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