Cops: To Spite His Neighbor, He Ate 2 Pet Peacocks

A Florida man is facing felony animal cruelty charges after allegedly killing and eating his own pet peacocks in a heated dispute with a neighbor, according to police. According to Pasco County court records, 61-year-old Craig Vogt of Hudson was arrested after admitting to deputies that he slit the throats of the two birds and cooked them in a frying pan this month, per USA Today. Vogt had placed a letter in his neighbor's mailbox saying he'd killed the peacocks because the woman wouldn't stop feeding them, an affidavit states.

Voht allegedly told law enforcement he slaughtered the peacocks "out of spite" and "to prove a point that he will continue to kill his pet peacocks if she continues to feed them," according to the affidavit. Court documents indicate Vogt also told deputies he planned to kill any remaining peacocks if and when he was released from custody, to prevent anyone else from taking them. He was booked into the Land O' Lakes Detention Center on aggravated animal cruelty charges, adding to "an extensive criminal record," per CBS News. As of Monday, he was no longer listed as an inmate and details about his bond and next court date remain unclear, though he's requested a public defender.