Winnipeg man, woman charged in torture killings of cats posted on dark web

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This article was published 11/10/2024 (379 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Two Winnipeg residents allegedly tortured and killed several cats — and posted videos and photos of the crimes on the dark web — in a case that has disturbed investigators and animal-welfare advocates.

Winnipeg Police Service spokesman Const. Stephen Spencer said 10 cats and a rabbit, all dead, were found when officers arrested the suspects and searched a Lord Roberts home.

The suspects acquired some of the cats from social media “selling platforms,” he said.

“Investigators told me that this is the worst case that they’ve dealt with. A very horrible case involving animal cruelty,” Spencer told reporters Friday.

“The videos were posted on the dark web and viewed by others. I don’t know the exact intent. We’re still looking into that.”

He said videos and photos were posted between May and August.

Irene Lima, 55, and Chad Kabecz, 40, are charged with killing or injuring animals, causing unnecessary suffering to an animal, failing to provide adequate medical attention for an ill or wounded animal and inflicting acute suffering, serious injury or harm or extreme anxiety or distress to an animal.

Police would not disclose the pair’s relationship. Both were remanded into custody.

Spencer said the WPS began investigating in August, when it was contacted by the Manitoba government’s animal health and welfare branch.

“Somebody who viewed this content online contacted the animal-care line who, in turn, contacted the police,” he said.

Social media posts led the tipster to believe the suspects were in Winnipeg, according to police.

The dark web is not indexed by online search engines and can allow users to communicate anonymously.

The East District community support team carried out the investigation, which was dubbed Project Artemis. Artemis is the Greek goddess of animals.

Police would not reveal the kind of evidence that was seized at the home.

Kabecz has no criminal record. Lima has unrelated convictions for fraud and non-compliance with a conditional sentence order in 2014 and 2018, respectively.

Manitoba Hydro’s 2023 compensation disclosure report listed Kabecz as an operating/electrical technician.

“Manitoba Hydro became aware today of charges against a Manitoba Hydro employee,” Peter Chura, a spokesman for the Crown corporation told the Free Press in an email Friday.

“The nature of these charges is deeply disturbing and inconsistent with our values and code of conduct. We take this matter very seriously and will investigate internally as well as fully co-operate with the police investigation. As this matter may be going before the courts, we will not be commenting further at this time.”

Krista Blahut, who rescues cats and is part of a group called Winnipeg Lost Cat Assistance, was disturbed by the allegations.

“It’s just very upsetting there are people out there doing this kind of thing,” she said. “The thing I find the hardest is I can’t stop it. I can’t save them all.”

Police said there is no evidence linking the case to a number of recent cat deaths in the Point Douglas area. The situations are being investigated separately, said Spencer.

The major crimes unit is investigating the deaths in Point Douglas.

“We take it very seriously, and we want to work with the community to solve that, as well,” said Spencer.

Blahut said she recently found two dead cats in Pritchard Point Park, which is next to the Red River near Main Street and Pritchard Avenue.

She believes the cats were mutilated and killed, along with others in Point Douglas and the North End. One of the cats she found was found decapitated, wrapped in plastic and partially buried, she said.

“I can’t get those images out of my head, which is why I’m kind of doing this,” said Blahut, who is raising awareness about the deaths. “There’s been a high concentration in a short amount of time in the Point Douglas area.”

She is also advocating for tougher penalties for people convicted of killing or injuring animals.

Blahut urged people to keep their cats inside — a city bylaw requires cats to be kept indoors — and think twice about giving pets away to strangers via social media.

“You don’t know what kind of fate they’re going to have,” she said.

Andrew Clarke, director of investigations and emergency response at the Winnipeg Humane Society, said people should deal with reputable shelters or rescue agencies when they rehome an animal.

Clarke oversees a team of animal-protection officers who work under the provincial chief veterinarian’s office.

In the last two years, the team has received more than 2,200 calls for service, with about two-thirds involving concerns about animal welfare or allegations of cruelty, said Clarke.

“There’s a whole range of types of welfare cruelty calls that we come across,” he said. “The public are our eyes and ears.”

Some involve people who, for various reasons, become overwhelmed by pet ownership, while others are “backyard breeders,” Clarke added.

“And then (there are) situations where people are downright cruel to animals,” he said.

WPS urged people to call Manitoba’s animal-care line at 204-945-8000 or contact police if they see or are aware of an animal being abused, or have concerns about its welfare.

“I can say, anecdotally, when individuals that are believed to be involved in heinous crimes against helpless animals, it often leads to escalating violent behaviour toward humans, so we take that very seriously,” said Spencer.

— With files from Dean Pritchard

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca