Community Should Fear for Public Safety, Say Experts

For Immediate Release:
June 20, 2005

Contact:
Daniel Paden 757-622-7382

Hamden, Conn.- This morning, PETA sent an urgent plea to Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney James Turcotte, urging him to vigorously prosecute John Hegedus of Hamden. Hegedus faces felony charges stemming from an incident earlier this month in which authorities reportedly witnessed him shooting and mortally wounding a raccoon—whom he had trapped—behind his home. Officials alleged that the animal was “alert and alive, bleeding from the head, suffering and squealing,” after being shot as they arrived on the scene. News sources state that the authorities euthanized the suffering animal and that Hegedus had apparently been killing animals in this fashion for some time.

“People who demonstrate such blatant disregard for life and desensitization to suffering can pose a serious risk to the people and animals with whom they come into contact,” says PETA Cruelty Caseworker Daniel Paden. “Mental-health professionals and top law-enforcement officials consider cruelty to animals to be a red flag.”

PETA is also sending its anti-violence public service announcement hosted by actor Dennis Franz to TV stations serving the Hamden area.

For more information, please visit HelpingAnimals.com.

PETA’s letter to Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney James Turcotte follows.

June 20, 2005

James Turcotte, Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney
Office of the State’s Attorney, New Haven Judicial District—G.A. 7
54 W. Main St.
Meriden, CT 06451

Dear Mr. Turcotte:

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is the world’s largest animal rights organization, with more than 850,000 members and supporters dedicated to animal protection. This letter concerns a recent cruelty-to-animals case that your office is handling, involving John Hegedus, 87, of Hamden. Hegedus faces felony charges stemming from authorities’ reported discovery of his shooting of a caged raccoon behind his Merritt Street home earlier this month. According to news sources, the defendant trapped the animal and—as responding authorities arrived—shot her in the head with a .22 caliber rifle. The animal was said to have been subsequently euthanized. Police evidently suspect that the accused has been dispatching animals in this manner for a while.

Mental-health professionals and top law-enforcement officials consider cruelty to animals to be a red flag. The American Psychiatric Association identifies animal abuse as one of the diagnostic criteria for conduct disorders, and the FBI uses reports of cruelty to animals in analyzing the threat potential of suspected and known criminals. Experts agree that it is the severity of the behavior—not the species of the victim—that matters.

We ask that, upon conviction, John Hegedus be required to undergo a thorough psychological evaluation followed by mandatory counseling and anger-management classes (if applicable) at personal expense¯the safety of the community may depend on it. Because repeat crimes are the rule rather than the exception among animal abusers and given the violent and supremely idiotic nature of his alleged actions that day, we implore you to take every measure necessary to ensure that he is barred from all contact with animals and to immediately seize any animals who remain in his charge.

On behalf of our thousands of members in Connecticut, we thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Daniel Paden, Cruelty Caseworker
Domestic Animal and Wildlife Rescue & Information Department