Group Of Young Boys Killed Opossum, Lit It On Fire While It Was Trying To Give Birth


Although boys are known for having fun outdoors, one group of boys’ idea of “fun” isn’t exactly what most would envision. Now they are facing animal cruelty charges for their “fun” day, which led to the “inhumane” death of an animal.

According to Fox 8, five young boys, presumably pre-teens, are in hot water for killing an opossum. High Point, North Carolina, resident Sara Kurtnacker walked out of her home to quite a gruesome site on Sunday, June 14. She reportedly caught a group of boys “bludgeoning” the animal. She stated that the animal was “beat to a pulp” during the horrific attack. She insists the most disturbing part was their level of enjoyment.

“I walked out and basically saw them bludgeon an opossum with bricks and stones,” Kurtnacker told Fox 8. “It was way beyond animal cruelty. It was just inhumane. They were having a ball doing it. If you can do that to an opossum, the next step is dogs, cats, moving up. You never know what area of the food chain they’re going to hit next.”

However, that’s not all. According to the police report, after brutally beating the opossum, the boys doused lighter fluid on the injured opossum’s mangled body and lit it on fire — while it was trying to give birth. The horrific scene became much more heart-wrenching when “several newborn babies began to come out of the female’s pouch.” It has also been reported that “the hairless babies succumbed from the attack.”

Kurtnacker used her cell phone to obtain footage of the animal’s remains. The graphic cell phone clip shows the bloodied and beaten animal in a ditch after the boys killed it. The animal is surrounded by the bricks and stones they used during the attack. If you’d like to view the video, click here.

Two of the boys – ages 12 and 13 – have been charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty. However, the High Point Police Department has stated that more boys will likely be charged for their involvement in the heinous crime. Although the boys are facing misdemeanor charges, there is a strong possibility the charges could be upgraded. However, their age may contribute to the charge being considered a misdemeanor offense.

In most cases, animal torture results in a felony charge under North Carolina animal cruelty statutes, according to Animal Law.

“If any person shall maliciously torture, mutilate, maim, cruelly beat, disfigure, poison, or kill, or cause or procure to be tortured, mutilated, maimed, cruelly beaten, disfigured, poisoned, or killed, any animal, every such offender shall for every such offense be guilty of a Class H felony.”

The boys are quite young, but such cruel acts toward animals are considered very alarming. According to Psychology Today, children who are old enough to understand the impact of their actions and find pleasure in seeing animals suffer may need to seek professional help.

“Taking pleasure in watching an animal in pain are all ‘red flags’ that signal the need for professional intervention. This is particularly true when the child has the cognitive maturity to understand that what s/he is doing is wrong – and repeatedly does it anyway.”

Do you think the boys should face felony charges? Should a professional intervention also be ordered for them? Share your thoughts.

[Image via Shutterstock]

Share this article: Group Of Young Boys Killed Opossum, Lit It On Fire While It Was Trying To Give Birth
More from Inquisitr