Johnathan M. Quatroche (Delaware County Sheriff’s Office)
A 20-year-old man in Indiana was arrested over the weekend after he allegedly killed his girlfriend’s pet rabbit by bashing the defenseless animal’s head in, then threatening his girlfriend by telling her that she was “next” to die. Johnathan M. Quatroche was taken into custody on Saturday and charged with one count of animal cruelty and one count of intimidation.
According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by Law&Crime, officers with the Muncie Police Department at about 12:42 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11 responded to an apartment complex located in the 3000 block of West Bethel Avenue in regards to a report of a domestic disturbance. Police said that the victim’s father was the person who called 911 to report the problem.
Upon arriving at the scene, first responders made contact with the female, saying that she was “very distraught” and crying when police pulled up. Her parents showed up at the residence shortly after officers arrived.
The victim told police that she was at her apartment with Quatroche, whom she identified as her boyfriend, and she went to take a shower. When she got out of the shower, she said Quatroche had already killed her pet rabbit.
“When [the victim] got out of the shower and re-engaged with [Quatroche], [Quatroche] informed her that he had killed her rabbit. The rabbit and its cage were no longer in the apartment at this time. [The victim] claimed that [Quatroche] initially stated that it was an accident,” the affidavit states. “When [the victim] became upset with [Quatroche] about the death of the rabbit, [Quatroche] stated that he killed the rabbit intentionally. [The victim] told me that [Quatroche] said ‘she had to go, and you’re next.’ [Quatroche] eventually left the apartment and [the victim] called her family to inform them of the situation.”
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Following the interview, the victim filled out a voluntary statement regarding Quatroche’s alleged actions. She also told investigators there had been “domestic issues” with Quatroche in the past and that he had previously “hit her causing bruising.”
An officer on the scene collecting evidence looked in the dumpster outside of the apartment where they allegedly found the dead rabbit.
“The rabbit’s head had been smashed and was bloody,” police wrote in the affidavit.
In a post-Miranda interview with police, Quatroche, who is a student at Ball State University, would not speak about the incident. Instead, police said he told investigators that he “pleads the fifth.” He was then taken into custody without incident.
Quatroche was booked into the Delaware County Jail and released after posting a bond of $10,000.
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