A woman threw a pet crate containing her ex-boyfriend’s cat into the Intracoastal Waterway on Thursday night after the two got into an argument over him moving out of their recreational vehicle (RV), a report and the Volusia Sheriff’s Office said.
Deputies stated that Stanley, the cat, was saved. Officials from Volusia County Animal Services took the cat into their care to conduct a follow-up evaluation.
According to deputies, they were summoned to Riverwood Park Campground at H H Burch Road just before 7 p.m. after Christa Anne Thetle, 53, and her ex-boyfriend began to argue. According to authorities, the couple had just broken up and got into an argument over her ex-boyfriend not moving out fast enough.
Deputies stated in a news release that Stanley’s belongings were being moved out of the RV and then the woman took Stanley’s cat cage and threw it with him into the river.
Authorities stated that Stanley was submerged for around 20 seconds when his ex-boyfriend dived into the water in an effort to save him. Deputies arrived to find the cat “still wet” and “shivering”, while Thistle’s ex-boyfriend was “wet from the waist down,” consistent with the decision to jump in the river to rescue (the cat).
Thistle was seen in bodycam footage by police denying that he had thrown the cat into a river.
According to jail records, Thistle was charged with felony cruelty to animals. She was also charged with simple assault by the deputies “after she demanded that she be taken to jail in order to make a call, bond out, and kill her ex-boyfriend.”
According to jail records, she was still in jail on Friday afternoon without bond.
