North Texas Man Sentenced to 40 Years for Torturing and Killing Kittens at Local Shelter
A North Texas man, Gabriel Skyler Caswell, has been sentenced to 40 years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple counts of animal cruelty related to the violent deaths of kittens at the Weatherford Parker County Animal Shelter. Arrested in July 2023, Caswell was implicated in the deaths of 80 kittens since February 2023, significantly exceeding the shelter’s average rate.
During the investigation, police found that Caswell was caught on surveillance video torturing kittens, including acts of stomping and kicking them. Caswell was apprehended when a shelter staff member witnessed him abusing a kitten. Subsequent reviews of the footage by law enforcement revealed the extent of his actions, leading to charges based on 15 separate instances of cruelty.
The case garnered significant attention, with prosecutors noting the emotional impact of the evidence on jury members. Caswell’s rationale for his actions included personal frustrations unrelated to the kittens. He was sentenced to 10 years for each of the 12 counts of animal cruelty, with the sentences running concurrently but added to three other prior sentences. As a result, Caswell will not be eligible for parole until he has completed his time in prison.
