LAKELAND, Fla. – Tamesha Knighten, 51, from Lakeland, Florida, is facing serious charges after allegedly poisoning her neighbors’ pets, resulting in the death of two cats and a pregnant Chihuahua.
The Polk County Sheriff’s office revealed that Knighten is facing three counts of felony animal cruelty and one count of depositing poison in a public area. The tragic incident occurred on August 16, 2023, when the suspect reportedly used poison-laced chicken to kill the animals.
According to reports, the neighbors had previously informed authorities that Knighten had made repeated threats to harm their pets if they ventured into her yard. On the day of the alleged poisoning, Knighten also reportedly confronted the neighbors’ children while they were playing outside.
After the pets displayed unusual behavior, Knighten allegedly dismissed the concerns by suggesting that the cat had ingested a frog. Tragically, the two cats, Luna and Pancake, and the pregnant Chihuahua named Daisy, succumbed to a highly concentrated amount of Phorate, a lethal pesticide found in insecticides.
Authorities discovered incriminating video footage of Knighten handling a bowl containing a similar substance to the poison found at the scene. Subsequent lab tests confirmed the presence of Phorate in the deceased animals.
Knighten has been taken into custody and is facing legal consequences for her alleged actions. The community mourns the loss of the innocent pets and awaits further developments in the case.