In a shocking case out of Hudson, Florida, a 61-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly killing and consuming his own pet peacocks as an act of vengeance against a neighbor, the New York Post reported.
Craig Vogt, the accused, faces charges of aggravated animal cruelty after reportedly slaughtering two peacocks in a dispute over their feeding by a nearby resident.
The incident unfolded in Hudson, a small community in Pasco County, where tensions between Vogt and his neighbor had been simmering for some time.
According to authorities, the neighbors had engaged in multiple verbal disagreements over the peacocks prior to the incident.
Vogt allegedly took drastic measures last Tuesday, when he is said to have killed two of his birds in a gruesome manner.
An affidavit from the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office detailed that Vogt admitted to “cutting the peacock’s neck with a knife and then cooking it in a frying pan.”
After the act, Vogt placed a letter in his neighbor’s mailbox, confessing to the killings.
In the note, he stated he did it because the neighbor “continued feeding them,” which he apparently viewed as interference.
He further wrote that the letter was meant to “prove a point that he will continue to kill his pet peacocks if she continues to feed them.”
Following the discovery of the letter, law enforcement arrested Vogt on charges of aggravated animal cruelty, a third-degree felony.
While being taken into custody, Vogt reportedly told police he “plans to kill all his pet peacocks to prevent anyone from taking custody of them.”
This chilling statement raised concerns among authorities about the safety of any remaining birds under his care, though the exact number of peacocks he owns remains unclear.
Vogt’s mugshot, showing him with a grimace and one eye seemingly shut, was released by the sheriff’s office following his arrest.
Court records reveal a troubling history, with over 40 cases previously filed against him in Pasco County, including charges for public intoxication, criminal traffic violations, and aggravated assault.
No attorney has been listed for Vogt at this time, leaving his legal representation status uncertain as the case proceeds.
