Crime & Safety

2 Lacrosse Players Accused of Brutally Killing Guinea Pig

One player is accused of slitting the guinea pig's throat and the other allegedly beat the animal with a bat.

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Grosse Ile, MI — Two high school lacrosse players have been formally charged with a count each of animal cruelty for allegedly killing a guinea pig in a pre-game ritual last spring, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said Monday.

Tanner Coolsaet, 18, and Michael Roth, 17, both of Grosse Ile, are expected to be arraigned Monday morning in 33rd District Court in Woodhaven.

They are charged two counts each of animals – killing/torturing and conspiracy to commit killing/torturing of animals. All of the charges are felonies carrying a maximum four-year penalty. Roth is charged as an adult in the incident.

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The two are accused of bringing the guinea pig to a pre-game meeting at Grosse Ile High School at 11:30 a.m. on April 30.

Worthy said in a statement that Coolsaet slit the guinea pig’s throat, and Roth struck it with a small bat. The animal died shortly thereafter.

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“The alleged facts in this case illustrate much more than a youthful prank or a pre-game antic,” Worthy said in a statement. “We must take these cases seriously.”

Image credit: Shutterstock

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