Man Forced Daughter to Kill Cat

By Margaret Lyons in News on Aug 1, 2008 6:35PM

Danield John Collins, 39, pleaded guilty yesterday to one count of domestic violence/animal cruelty and two counts of neglect of a dependent. He forced his 7-year-old daughter to stab the family's cat.

Collins was arrested March 13 after he was accused of forcing his daughter to stab Boots, the family's eight-month-old feline, with a knife. The girl and Collins' 11-year-old son said their father ordered them to stab the cat because he wanted them to "learn to kill."

Police said the defendant's son tried to hide the cat from his father, but that Collins was able to find the animal and strangled it as his children looked on.

Authorities said Boots had suffered a broken leg, broken teeth, a bruised ear, ripped lip and two stab wounds, but died as a result of being strangled.

Collins, of Muncie, says he was drunk at the time and doesn't remember the incident, but he didn't dispute his children's account. Jesus. [AP]