By Kim Wilmath, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
TAMPA — It was all over a crawfish.
The 30 BB gun shots, the lockup in the "Kitty Penitentiary" and a cat's abandonment in McKay Bay followed Mittens' consumption of a pet crustacean.
Details of an animal abuse case that horrified the community came to light Wednesday in a Hillsborough County courtroom, where investigators sought to keep a cat owner and her boyfriend away from animals for good.
Judge Nick Nazaretian ruled that Mildred "Missy" Krack, 26, can never have another pet in Hillsborough County. A hearing for her 19-year-old boyfriend, Giovanni Estrada, who has been charged with animal cruelty, was rescheduled for Nov. 5.
Krack told the judge that she thought Estrada planned to release Mittens into the wild after the cat ate one of his pet crawfish. She said she didn't know he planned to shoot the animal 30 times with a BB gun and dump her into the bay.
"What kind of person does that?" Nazaretian asked her.
"A very sick person," Krack answered in a soft voice. "I didn't know he was going to do that. We were supposed to be letting her go."
Krack couldn't explain why Mittens was put into a cat carrier decorated with labels like "Kitty Penitentiary" and "Cell 666." She told the judge that she sat obliviously in Estrada's truck while Estrada took the carrier to the water.
She said she didn't hear the BB gun shots over the radio.
The cat was discovered near 3 a.m. Sept. 1 by a couple walking along the beach who heard gurgling coming from the water.
Tips to Hillsborough County Animal Services led investigators to Estrada and Krack about two weeks later.
Estrada was charged with felony animal cruelty. Criminal charges against Krack are pending.
Pam Perry, animal services' investigations manager, said Krack's involvement is complicated because it seems Estrada had emotional control over her. Perry described Krack as meek and in denial.
Krack would not comment as she left the courtroom Wednesday.
"She was a participant in this," Perry said of Krack. "Is she a victim as well? Quite possibly. Was she abused by Mr. Estrada as well? Quite possibly."
There are no records in Hillsborough County of domestic violence between Krack and Estrada.
During interviews for this case, Perry said Krack told investigators that Estrada had rescued her from a low point in her life about a year ago, that she was indebted to him and that they were in love.
Cpl. Ken Vetzel said Krack told them she sometimes let Estrada stay with her at the Town 'N Country duplex where she lived. On the wall of her bedroom, investigators photographed a message written in permanent marker: "Gio is the master of the universe."
Krack also told investigators about Estrada's crawfish that he named and kept in a fish tank as pets, and she told them Estrada often complained about her cat, Vetzel said.
During the recorded interviews, Krack told investigators a different story about what happened after Mittens' crawfish meal.
She said she accompanied Estrada when he took the cat to the bay.
After Estrada shot the cat, he and Krack stood at the edge, embracing, Vetzel said. Krack said she was crying, her back to the sea, when Estrada kicked the cat to the water.