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Roark Xanthos and Thomas Gorman, both 18, later went to a party in Yaphank and bragged about what they'd done, Suffolk police said.
Xanthos and Gorman found the turtle on the side of the road in Bellport early May 22, said Sgt. Bryan McMenemy of the Suffolk Police Fifth Squad.
They put it in a plastic milk crate and went to the home of a friend, knocking on his window and asking him if he wanted it, McMenemy said. "It was a very large turtle," McMenemy said.
The friend said no and to go away, McMenemy said.
When the friend and his family left their house, Xanthos and Gorman returned with the turtle around
The teens placed the turtle in a makeshift fire pit they made with rocks from the yard, doused it with gasoline and set it on fire, police said in a release.
After burning the turtle, the teens killed it by stabbing it through its shell with a long metal pole, police said.
The family came home and called police when they found the turtle's carcass.
"It was probably two kids bored, don't have anything better to do," McMenemy said. "It's horrible."
Detectives charged Xanthos, of
Xanthos was arrested Friday and Gorman on Saturday. The two were arraigned in First District Court in Central Islip.
A necropsy performed on the turtle by a veterinarian showed it was a female but could not determine its age.
The necropsy also showed that plastic was melted over its body. "I'm thinking they left it in the milk crate," McMenemy said.
"It's just so cruel," he said. "There's no reason for this."
Originally published:
Updated:
The father of an East Patchogue teen charged with animal cruelty after allegedly setting fire to and stabbing a 12-pound snapping turtle said his son comes from a family of animal lovers.
"He's a great kid," said the father of Thomas Gorman, 18. "We don't know what happened. (It’s easy to figure out, you’re kid is an schmuck – and that’s putting it politely . Some people just turn out that way when left to their own devices. Ie: fellow east Patchogue-er Chris Overton)
"We love animals," said the father, who declined to identify himself. "Thomas just helped deliver our chihuahua's puppies. He was up with her all night." This means what? Joran van der Sloot was probably real nice to his mom and respectful to the ladies in his family.
Gorman and Roark Xanthos, also 18, of Bellport, doused the turtle with gasoline, set it on fire, and stabbed and killed it with a metal pole, police said.
Snapping turtles are the largest freshwater turtle found throughout the Long Island area. They can weigh more than 50 pounds, though 35 is about average, with the shell measuring 8 to 20 inches.
The teens found the turtle on the side of the road in Bellport early May 22, said Sgt. Bryan McMenemy of the Suffolk Police Fifth Squad.
They put it in a plastic milk crate and went to the home of a friend, knocking on his window and asking him if he wanted it, McMenemy said. "It was a very large turtle," McMenemy said.
The friend said no and to go away, McMenemy said.
When the friend and his family left their house, Xanthos and Gorman returned with the turtle around
The teens placed the turtle in a makeshift fire pit they made with rocks from the yard, doused it with gasoline and set it on fire, police said in a release.
After burning the turtle, the teens killed it by stabbing it through its shell with a long metal pole, police said.
The family came home and called police when they found the turtle's carcass.
"It was probably two kids bored, don't have anything better to do," McMenemy said. "It's horrible." Or you could speculate that they are shit for brains sadists.
Detectives charged Xanthos, of
Roy Gross, chief of the
Xanthos was arrested Friday and Gorman on Saturday. The two were arraigned in First District Court in Central Islip.
A necropsy performed on the turtle showed it was a female but could not determine its age.