Some time later, the police department was searching for a man from a nearby town. Cats had been found strung up by wire, wrapped taut around their necks, hanging from schoolyard fences. Their eyes were gouged out and each cat appeared to have been dragged behind a vehicle at excessive speeds. Cats were found buried Pet Cemetary -style in the outskirts of town. The charge was over five felony counts of animal cruelty.
Sean was the suspect.
Less than a week later, he turned himself in to the police. The first glance I saw of this in the paper sent chills through my body. At first, I was confused, then disgusted, and finally maniacally pleased. I followed this case like it was the Manson case. I was obsessed.
The description of the crimes sounded like Sean's attitude. He was highly cynical and always skeptical of the world. Maliciousness was a way of life for him. Everything was amusing to him. There were no limits.
His bail was set at $100,000 more than the average rapist. If he was found guilty by a jury, he would have been sent to prison for five years, with five years probation. After some highly-publicized news coverage, Sean was convicted. He admitted guilt in a plea-bargain that saved him from being sent to prison.
Sean was in jail, I felt smug, and life was harassment free. I started my career and went traveling around the state.
