Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Man Accused Of Beating Cat To Death With Umbrella
By
Ben Muessig
Published Dec 12, 2009
Modified Dec 12, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Muessig
Published Dec 12, 2009
Modified Dec 12, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Just days after a judge sentenced a teen to two years behind bars for putting a kitten in an oven, investigators say they have uncovered another heinous act of animal cruelty in the city.
Lordtyshon Garret, 31, is accused of terrorizing and killing his mother-in-law's pet cat with an umbrella in October. The suspect allegedly poked, stabbed, and beat the 4-year-old cat named Madea while staying at his mother-in-law's Brooklyn home — perhaps because his in-law told him to get a job and move out. According to the Daily News, when the cat was having trouble breathing a day after the beating, she was brought to the vet's office, where she was euthanized.
After investigators found bits of black plastic from the umbrella in the cat's litter box and recovered a scratched-up umbrella that contained both the cat's DNA and Garret's, they charged him with felony animal cruelty — which carries a maximum two years in jail. When questioned by his brother-in-law about the attack, Garret — who is being held in lieu of $3,500 bail — apparently said: "Damn, I left a smoking gun." Garret's mother-in-law, Deborah Bender, remains broken up about her cat's death. "She was more than just a cat...I'm not having any more kids — some grandkids maybe — but that was my baby right there."
Tagged
animal cruelty
cat
deborah bender
lordtyshon garret
madea
umbrella
Ben Muessig
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Mamdani says Trump will 'immediately' grant visa to Ghanaian mom of slain Bronx teen
Javits Frimpong, whose family is from Ghana, was walking to school Thursday morning when he was shot and killed.
By
Christian Santana
and
Giulia Heyward
Published Oct 31, 2026 at 3:08 p.m. ET
Modified Oct 31, 2026 at 3:54 p.m. ET
Overflowing school in downtown Jersey City is hitting a crisis point, parents say
There aren't great options for relieving overcrowding at P.S. 16 in Paulus Hook. It's a consequence of a economic boom — and huge influx of residents.
By
Michael Sol Warren
News
Overflowing school in downtown Jersey City is hitting a crisis point, parents say
There aren't great options for relieving overcrowding at P.S. 16 in Paulus Hook. It's a consequence of a economic boom — and huge influx of residents.
By
Michael Sol Warren
Bronx e-bike fire that killed a boy has claimed 3 more lives, NYPD says
By
Amanda Rozon
Donald Trump looms over New York attorney general’s race
By
Jon Campbell
and
Walter Wuthmann
How formerly homeless New Yorkers are helping others get off the streets
By
Karen Yi
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .