On Tuesday, November 5, a decapitated bunny head was found at the house being built next to a senior’s house, bringing the total of dead animal body reports, as reported in local media, to five. According to those reports, as well as sources in the school, the incidents are generally targeting senior girls which is “creepy and disturbing” the senior said.
The senior was actually not the one to discover the bunny head, “There is a house being built right across from mine, so the builder found the decapitated bunny on the new property lying out in the open,” the senior said. “He called the police immediately and then the police began questioning all our neighbors.”
Even though the animal head wasn’t found directly on the senior’s property, patterns in the animal incidents lead to her being another victim. “[The police] think that because I’m a senior girl, and many of the other victims are as well, that this could somehow be connected to me which is really frightening.”
From rumors to police reports, the news on the animal head and body findings in students’ yards have left not only the student body, but also the community, with many unanswered questions. While the police have still not confirmed whether they have found the culprit(s) of these crimes, Sergeant Carol Ogrinc and Principal Dr. Bryan Luizzi both said that no one in the town or in the school is in any serious danger. “I truly believe that the community is safe overall, the students are safe, the school does everything they can to make their learning environment there as safe as possible, they do a great job,” Sergeant Ogrinc said.
The commotion over these incidences has become heightened with each report, now totalling five. According to Sergeant Carol Ogrinc this is the first time that anything like this has happened, as far as the animals go. Prior to the bunny head discovery, there were three reports from female seniors, all friends, that mutilated cat or bird heads have been found on their properties. One of the girls found a dead bird in her car. While the bird was discovered once the girl was in Waveny Park, she believes the bird was placed in her unlocked car while it was still in the school parking lot. In addition, there was an incident reported by a community member whose daughter is a freshman here.
Sergeant Ogrinc explained that since one of the crimes might have been committed on school property, the police are in close contact with the school administration. “We have been working with the school, speaking with them and trying to get any information whether it be via a camera that is somewhere in the parking lot- we’re still looking into that as a matter of fact,” she said. Officer Jason Kim works at the high school and Sergeant Ogrinc explained that they’ve been in constant contact with him, sharing information.
Dr. Luizzi emphasized the administration’s concern with the case saying that if actions outside of school affect the school environment then it becomes their duty to take action. “Our relationship with the town police is that if there was anything that put a student in danger they would let us know right away and we would take appropriate steps,” he said. The use of an in-school police officer becomes critical at this time because, according to Dr. Luizzi, even though police don’t disclose who they suspect, Officer Kim would let them know of any concerns and threats to the students.
This safe feeling isn’t necessarily apparent in the town as some people fear the historical link where serial killers possess a past of mutilating animals. “I think people who were thinking that way, were thinking worst case scenario, which is normal to think that, and there have been links to people who they later found were serial murders or serial killers having had abused or even tortured or killed animals in their childhood or prior to targeting humans so I think people were just thinking the worst case scenario, which is that,” Sergeant Ogrinc said. “I’m not discounting that that is true but we really don’t believe that’s the case here.
On top of daily communications with the police, the school administration has also reached out to the student victims. Dr. Luizzi explained that they reached out to the girls involved and even had the school counselors talk with them, but they don’t want to draw too much attention to the situation and overwhelm the girls each day. “We have reached out to all the students involved to make sure they feel comfortable and supported,” Dr. Luizzi said. “We want to make sure that everyone always feels safe and supported at the school.”
Such serious crimes call for equally serious charges, however the police will need more information before they can release the definite charges the person will face. According to the CT Animal Cruelty Statute: CGS 53-246 (b) maliciously and intentionally maiming, mutilating, torturing, wounding, or killing an animal is punishable by a fine of up to $5,000, up to five years imprisonment, or both. As far as school consequences go, if the suspect in a high school student, Dr. Luizzi says that the consequence would be significant.
The mystery behind the motives of these crimes may be what has stirred up the town the most, but Sergeant Ogrinc feels that it can serve as a wake up call for recognizing malicious intent. “Two of the three incidences would not have gotten reported if it had not been for the cat being found,” she said. “The cat was the first report and the other two were delayed, much delayed reports. We would have never found out about those had it not been for the others, so people’s levels of awareness are raised. If you see anything suspicious or hear anything that you think would even relate to that, please call us.”
The New Canaan Anonymous Tip Line can be reached at 203.594.3544.
