Prosecutors In Asbury Park Cat Torture Case Honored

ASBURY PARK, NJ — The two Monmouth County assistant prosecutors who prosecuted animal cruelty cases in Monmouth County last year — one of which involved an Asbury Park man who was convicted of torturing and raping his pet cat, and cutting off the cat's tongue while it was still alive — have been honored by the California-based Animal Legal Defense Fund.

The assistant prosecutors are Keri-Leigh Schaefer and Sevan Biramian.

The other case involved a Howell man who similarly tortured his pet cat, cutting it, and recorded the act on his phone. Both are serving prison time.

“Simply put, these two cases prosecuted by Ms. Schaefer and Mr. Biramian involved some of the most horrific examples of animal abuse imaginable. But thanks to their dedication, tenacity and superb legal skills, the final outcome was two of the longest sentences for such cases in state history,” said Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago. “We couldn’t be prouder of them.”

Bani Mezquititla, 20, of Asbury Park, is currently serving five years in state prison, the maximum allowable under the law. He was convicted of performing sexual acts on his pet cat Ellie, including sodomizing and inserting pencils into the cat, seriously injuring it. He also later restrained and tortured the cat, resulting in its death.

In the second case, Howell Police were initially dispatched to a home for an unrelated matter and found the body of a cat outside the home. The cat, Lilith, belonged to 30-year-old Christopher Sanchez, who used a sharp instrument to kill it two days earlier.

Both men recorded photos and video on their cell phones of them torturing and killing the cats.

Sanchez pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four and a half years in state prison.

“It was abundantly clear from an extraordinary outpouring of support for our team – via email, letters, phone calls, and otherwise, coming from across the country – that these were matters that struck a deep chord with the public,” said Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Melanie Falco, who supervised the prosecutions. “We are all sincerely grateful to the Animal Legal Defense Fund for their recognition of Keri’s and Sevan’s efforts, and hope that it sends a broader message that animal cruelty has no place whatsoever in civilized society.”

Asbury Park Man Admits Raping, Torturing And Killing Pet Cat (April 2024)