Beverly Man Allegedly Kills Kitten, Arrested on Animal Cruelty Charges

A 21-year-old Beverly man was arrested after allegedly killing his mother's cat Wednesday afternoon.

Beverly Police responded to Cabot Street on report of a woman who told officers that her son, 21-year-old Anthony Geyer, of 8 Roundy St., had killed her six-month old cat.  

"The victim was hysterical and neighbors, who were also witnesses to the abuse, assisted officers in getting the complete story," said Dave Costa, spokesman for the Beverly Police. "One witness told officers that she saw Geyer dragging his mother's cat outside last night at around 7:30 p.m. She told officers that she saw Geyer dragging the cat through the snow by a collar wrapped around the cat's neck.  She said she could hear the cat howling in obvious pain and confronted Geyer, who simply stated he took that cat outside to go to the bathroom."

Police reports said another neighbor saw Geyer around the same time as he entered the common hallway of the house. The witness told officers that the cat's hind legs were limp and not moving as Geyer dragged the cat into the house at that time.  

A third neighbor called the police today when Geyer knocked on her door holding the dead cat in his hands. Geyer allegedly told the neighbor that the cat "was not purring right."  

Upon close examination of the deceased cat, officers noticed a large amount of cat food stuffed into the cat's mouth. They tried to remove the food but noted that it was stuffed so far down the cat's throat that they couldn't get it all out.  

Geyer had left the scene prior to officers arriving but called his mother while they were there. Officers spoke to Geyer over the phone and asked him to come to the police station so they could ask him questions.  

When he arrived at the station he was arrested without incident.  

Geyer denied killing the cat and stated that he believed the six-month old cat died of natural causes.  However, while booking Geyer, officers noticed that he had numerous deep scratches on both hands, which the officers believe to be consistent with those caused by a cat's claws.  

Geyer argued that his injuries were the result of a fist fight the night before.