Crime

Restaurant owner offers $3,000 reward to catch Kennewick cat killer

Kennewick police continue to hunt the person responsible for killing five cats and leaving them in neighborhoods across the city.

The most recent victim was found on the 900 block of North Kellogg Street on Tuesday morning. It was the fifth found in two weeks.

The first cat was found beheaded on its owner’s property near Costco two weeks ago. Then on June 3, another was found cut in half near Vancouver Street and 37th Avenue, Tri-Cities Animal Shelter and Control Services posted on its Facebook page.

On June 7, the animal shelter reported that two more mutilated cats were discovered along a canal near 17th Avenue and Kellogg Street and on the 1100 block of West Park Hills Drive.

All of the cats appear to have been killed with a sharp blade somewhere else and left in the neighborhoods, said police.

Restaurant owner Joel Watson, of Just Joel’s, has stepped in with a $3,000 reward for information leading to the cat killer’s arrest.

Joel Watson, owner of Just Joel’s, features breakfast and lunch with handmade pies and soups at his Kennewick cafe.
Joel Watson, owner of Just Joel’s, features breakfast and lunch with handmade pies and soups at his Kennewick cafe. Bob Brawdy Tri-City Herald

“Let’s find this dude,” Watson said in a Facebook video. “This is ain’t cool. This is nasty. You’re a weirdo and what you’re doing is disgusting.”

The shelter is asking people to keep their cats inside or use a harness and leash if let outside.

Anyone with information is asked to call animal control services at 509-545-3750. They also are looking for anyone who may have a security cameras in the areas.

This story was originally published June 11, 2020 at 12:54 PM.

CP
Cameron Probert
Tri-City Herald
Cameron Probert covers breaking news for the Tri-City Herald, where he tries to answer reader questions about why police officers and firefighters are in your neighborhood. He studied communications at Washington State University.https://mycheckout.tri-cityherald.com/subscribe?ofrgp_id=394&g2i_or_o=Event&g2i_or_p=Reporter&cid=news_cta_0.99-1mo-15.99-on-article_202404
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