Florida man arrested for allegedly killing kittens to punish daughter

David Charette Jr., 48, has been arrested in Fort Myers, Florida, and charged with aggravated animal cruelty. Authorities allege Charette killed two kittens and injured a third as a form of punishment for his teenage daughter when she "acted up."

The investigation began after deputies responded to a report of a man attempting to drown and strike a two-month-old kitten named Luna. During the intervention, Charette reportedly defended his actions, claiming the cat was being bathed because it "soils itself in the cage."

Detectives revealed that Charette is accused of killing two other kittens over the past year: one allegedly smothered with a bleach-soaked rag in June and another allegedly killed with a blow dryer in November. While authorities believe the animals were buried in the backyard, only one carcass was recovered during a search of the property. Luna was rescued and taken to a veterinary hospital for treatment.