An Arkansas pastor was arrested after accusations surfaced of him drowning cats, which were confirmed after police came across animal traps alongside deceased animals in his residence.
Pastor arrested for animal cruelty
Charles Thessing, 63, faces two charges of aggravated animal cruelty. Authorities allege he used these traps to snare cats before drowning them.
Thessing, until recently, served as a priest at St. Michael Church in West Memphis. A search of his residence led officers to find two dead cats, believed to have been submerged in a water tank on his property.
Alongside the drowned animals, authorities located the traps allegedly intended for capturing the felines.
The investigation began when West Memphis Animal Services (WMAS) received a report about potential cruelty.
Their director, Kerry Facello, stated, “The deliberate harming of an animal is 100 percent unacceptable.” Acting on this tip, WMAS made the case their priority.
“To see someone be actively cruel, to see neglect, to see harm come to them in any way, not only is it heartbreaking and illegal, it makes a statement for how that person lives their life,” Facello said.
She commended the swift collaboration between WMAS and local law enforcement. “We were very fortunate that someone, a concerned citizen, brought our attention to the situation and we addressed it immediately.”
“The West Memphis Police Department worked so fast in obtaining a search warrant and allowing us to investigate further and see what exactly was going on,” she added.
The local police department echoed their commitment to justice by stating, “Animal cruelty will NOT be tolerated in our community.”
Pastor arrested and suspended from job
Following the investigation, Thessing was suspended by the Diocese of Little Rock from his pastoral duties.
According to reports, he was able to post bail from the Crittenden County Jail shortly afterwards. WREG revealed he was bonded out on Tuesday morning.
Meanwhile, in a brutal Florida case, a pastor’s elderly wife became the victim of a violent crime when a man, pretending to be a community service officer, invaded her home and attacked her.
The Orlando Police Department received a call from the pastor at the start of the month reporting a break-in.
When he entered his home, he was confronted with the horrifying scene of his 85-year-old wife suffering severe head injuries. Jewelry and other household items appeared to have been stolen.
The victim, Lucy Pat Curl, shared limited information before slipping into an induced coma. According to an affidavit, she mentioned hearing a knock on her door late in the morning, assuming someone might require help.
When she answered, she found a man claiming to be a community service officer who needed to inspect her property.
Curl reportedly asked for identification, prompting the man to present an ID from his wallet. He then forced his way inside and began attacking her. During the assault, he dropped his wallet.
Authorities noted that Curl tried to defend herself but eventually lost consciousness. Evidence suggested she may have been struck with a crystal candy jar, as officers found the item with traces of her hair.
Curl, bleeding and unable to find her phone, crawled to her garage and honked her car horn in desperation for 15 minutes. When no one came, she returned to her living room where her husband found her hours later.
Man who attacked pastor’s wife was a convicted felon
The assailant, later identified as Ronald Dwayne Davis, reportedly just left prison in June after serving a 15-year sentence for burglary and related charges.
Investigators thoroughly examined the crime scene and noted missing pieces of jewelry. With Davis’ wallet in hand from the home, authorities visited his address. There, they found him residing in a shed alongside a girlfriend.
Reports claim Davis initially attempted to mislead officers by providing only his middle name. But his identity was confirmed when police positively identified him at the shed and requested his ID, to which he responded that he had “lost it weeks ago.”
Detectives spotted his girlfriend wearing unique jewelry matching the victim’s stolen items. Later, she admitted that Davis recently gifted them to her. Officers discovered more stolen property at the location, including bloodstained clothing.
Facing charges of home invasion robbery with a weapon, aggravated battery on a person 65 years or older, and aggravated battery with a weapon, Davis was taken into custody.
Police later updated his charges to first-degree murder after Curl succumbed to her injuries a few days after the incident.
Currently held in the Orange County Jail without bond, Davis now awaits trial for these violent crimes.
