Alleged Serial Cat Killer Charged with Animal Cruelty by Luring Cats to Their Death with Food

A man from California has been charged with luring and killing cats.

On Tuesday, May 20, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office confirmed in a press release that Alejandro Acosta Oliveros was charged with felony animal cruelty and felony theft of a companion animal.

PEOPLE previously reported in April that the 46-year-old was arrested following allegations that he had killed over 12 cats at his home in Santa Ana.

“A Santa Ana man accused of luring cats with cat food in order to kidnap the animals to stomp them and beat them to death has been charged with felony animal cruelty along with felony theft of a companion animal for stealing a Bengal Lynx from a Westminster home,” the release by the Orange County DA read on Tuesday. “He is also accused of having methamphetamine on him when he was booked into jail.”

PEOPLE has contacted the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, the Santa Ana Police Department and the Westminster Police Department for further comment.

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Per the DA’s release, Oliveros faces “a maximum sentence of four years and four months if convicted of two counts of felony animal cruelty, one felony count of theft of a companion animal, and an additional one year in custody if convicted of one misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance.”

As a result of Oliveros’ alleged danger to the public, prosecutors are requesting his bail be raised to $100,000 from the fixed $20,000 bail.

“Additional evidence will be reviewed to determine whether additional criminal charges can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt,” the release continued.

Authorities say the Santa Ana Police Department’s animal control had received reports of dead or injured cats “near the area of W. Wilshire Avenue and S. Clara Street” since November 2024.

Police then received seven more reports between November and April, “including animals suffering from broken backs and bloody faces, all in the vicinity of W. Wilshire Avenue and S. Clara Street.”

Oliveros was also captured on CCTV, in different incidents, luring cats with food before picking up the animals and “driving away in a white Toyota Tacoma pickup truck.”

The investigation is still ongoing. People with information are advised to contact the Santa Ana and Westminster Police Departments. 

The suspect is set to appear for his initial arraignment at the Central Justice Center on Wednesday, May 21.