A Mesa man, Jay Campbell, has been arrested following a weeks-long investigation into the theft and abuse of his then-girlfriend’s cats. The incident unfolded with disturbing details that have shocked the local community.
Campbell, who was already on probation for aggravated assault, was arrested for violating an order of protection after his girlfriend reported that he had stolen her two cats and threatened to harm them. Despite being served the order, Campbell violated it four times within 24 hours, with police witnessing the final violation as he approached his girlfriend’s apartment.
The investigation revealed that Campbell had taken the cats to a U-Haul storage unit, where he initially denied their presence to U-Haul staff when questioned. Concerned for the cats’ welfare, the victim had alerted U-Haul, leading to a search that eventually found one of the cats, Zeus, critically injured with burned paws. Tragically, another cat named Persephone was found deceased nearby.
Emergency responders and animal rescuers worked diligently to save Zeus, who received immediate medical care and fluids after being found in dire condition.
Jay Campbell now faces multiple charges in connection with this incident and is currently held on a $12,000 bond.
This case highlights the importance of protective orders and the severe consequences of animal abuse. The community has rallied around the victim and the surviving cat, Zeus, who has since been reunited with his owner.
