Wausau, Wisconsin – A 17-year-old Wausau resident, Mikhi J. Turner, is facing serious felony animal mistreatment charges after being accused of a violent attack on a cat, in a case that has shocked the community.
Turner is currently being tried as an adult in the Marathon County Circuit Court, as per Wisconsin law, which treats 17-year-old defendants as adults within the judicial system.
According to police reports, the young man is accused of intentionally mutilating and disfiguring a cat that belonged to a family member, prompting a swift and severe response from authorities.
The investigation into this disturbing incident was initiated on October 15 when officers were dispatched to a residence on North Second Avenue in Wausau after receiving a report of animal abuse. The cat was discovered in a grievous state, with visible signs of trauma, including bleeding from the mouth, trembling, and hair loss from its head. The cat’s jaw was reportedly injured, and its eye was filled with blood. Moreover, two distinct patches on the cat’s head, running from above the eyes to the ears on both sides, indicated that hair had been forcibly removed.
A photograph of the cat taken earlier in the day depicted a completely different picture, revealing the animal to be in good health before its owner left the premises, with Turner remaining behind. During the course of the investigation, Turner allegedly admitted to striking the cat “more than a couple times,” providing further evidence of his involvement in the distressing incident.
At his initial court appearance on October 16, Turner pleaded not guilty to the charges levied against him. He was subsequently released on a $3,000 signature bond and ordered not to have any unsupervised contact with domestic animals as the legal proceedings continue.
The current status and condition of the cat remain unclear, as the case continues to unfold.
A pretrial conference is scheduled for November 10, with the community closely following this shocking case of alleged animal abuse.
