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MIAMI – A teenager accused of killing of more than a dozen cats in South Florida does not pose a danger to himself or the community and can be released from jail on bond, a judge ruled Wednesday.
Judge John Thornton ordered Tyler Hayes Weinman, 18, released after a brief hearing Wednesday morning. Weinman, who appeared in a Miami-Dade County courtroom in a red, jail-issued uniform, will wear an electronic monitoring bracelet while he awaits his trial and will be allowed to attend counseling sessions that were recommended by a doctor after a court-ordered psychiatric evaluation.
"He is competent to proceed and does not, at this time, appear to be at risk of harming himself or others," Thornton said.
Weinman has been charged with 19 counts each of animal cruelty and improperly disposing of an animal body. He also faces four counts of burglary related to the cat deaths. His bond, which was set at $249,500, was posted Tuesday.
"He's just a good kid whose a victim of circumstances," said his attorney, Michael Walsh. "He did not do this crime."
Weinman is accused of the gruesome cat killings that terrorized residents of two south Miami-Dade County neighborhoods for about a month. Police believe he is behind the deaths of more than a dozen animals, whose mutilated bodies were discovered by their owners or other residents. Police say they investigated the deaths of about 30 cats, but they say some were likely killed by dogs.
"He's an innocent man," Walsh said. "There's no evidence. Obviously, there's been a public outcry to solve this crime and you know that that motivates police in certain directions. And now this young man has to sit there and bear the allegations. When the case starts to unfold, you'll see."
The teenager, who was arrested over the weekend, is scheduled to be arraigned July 6. His father and stepmother attended Wednesday's hearing and initially declined to speak with the media outside the courtroom after the proceedings. As the couple walked outside the courthouse, however, his father told television reporters that he was confident his son wasn't involved in the deaths.
"I'm absolutely sure that he is innocent," Doug Weinman said. "Because I've raised a son for 18 years and I know who he is."
Alicia Glatzer, whose cat, Sarah, was found killed and mutilated outside her family's Palmetto Bay home in early May, said she was shocked by Weinman's release.
"It's disturbing that they would let him out knowing that he has killed so many cats," Glatzer said. "Although he says he's innocent and his attorney says he's innocent, there hasn't been any cat killings since he's been in jail. It's a concern of mine that he's let out, that's he's back on the street."
Police said they arrested Weinman after tracking the teenager for some time. He was taken to the police station for an interview on his prom night and his house was placed under surveillance. But on Wednesday, Walsh was critical of the investigation, saying that his client's arrest was based on circumstantial evidence.
"He doesn't know who did it," Walsh said. "He has no idea. Next thing he knows, he's in the back of a police car being arrested for this crime."
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Wow. What a surprise. Not.
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Oh... my..... God.......
They have no suspects, not even any idea, for anyone else who might have done this.. but they just go ahead and let the little beast back out?
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I just read and watched the video on the ABC website. He could be in jail for over 100+ yrs. I just wonder what the judge was talking about that he was not a threat to himself or others, only cats....Another Jeffrey Dahlmer....
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:eek: :eek: :eek:
WHAT!!!?? I can't believe this. Sure, you've raised your son for 18 years and you know who he is? It's not the first time we've heard that. I guess they'll get suspicious when the cat killings commence again??:mad: :mad: :mad:
