Disturbing video footage has surfaced of a blood-soaked woman accused of killing and eating a cat in Ohio. The incident occurred back on August 16th when the distressed residents called the police to report witnessing the act in a neighborhood just outside Canton, according to WHIO. The graphic bodycam footage shows the woman, later identified as Alexis Ferrell, hunched over and devouring the animal.
The video started gaining traction after former President Donald Trump and others amplified false rumors that Haitian immigrants were eating pets in Springfield, Ohio. While some people even claimed that the bodycam footage was proof of these malicious claims, it is crucial to note that Ferrell is not a Haitian immigrant but born in Ohio.
Ferrell was arrested at the scene and charged with several offenses, including prohibitions concerning companion animals, cruelty to animals, and disorderly conduct. The charges against her come amidst growing concerns about falsehoods circulating online regarding Springfield’s Haitian immigrant community allegedly harming pets.
In an attempt to debunk these rumors, Springfield city manager Bryan Heck stated there are “no credible reports of specific claims of pets being harmed, injured or abused by individuals within the immigrant community.” Despite this fact-checking effort, Trump’s comments on the matter echoed similar claims made by his campaign and other Republicans.
Ferrell has since been held on a $100,000 bond at the Stark County Jail and pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. She is due to face a competency hearing on October 15th. As the rumors continue to spread online, it remains crucial for accurate information to be shared and fact-checked diligently.
