LAKELAND, Fla. – A Florida woman, Tamesha Knighten, is facing charges of felony animal cruelty after being accused of poisoning her neighbor’s pets. The animals tragically did not survive, and this incident has left the community in shock. Knighten, who works as a licensed practical nurse at United Health Care in Lakeland, has been arrested by detectives from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Agricultural Crimes Unit.
The investigation began in August when the neighbors’ two cats, Luna and Pancake, died under suspicious circumstances. Shortly after, their pregnant Chihuahua, Daisy, also passed away, along with her unborn puppies. The pets exhibited symptoms consistent with poisoning, prompting the couple to alert authorities.
According to the victims, Knighten had previously made threats to poison their pets if they entered her yard. On the day the pets died, witnesses claimed to have seen Knighten pacing in her yard along the shared fence line. The couple accused her of yelling at their children, and their security cameras captured Knighten holding a suspicious bowl of substance in her yard.
Samples from the bowl, along with the pets’ tissues and other evidence, were analyzed and found to contain phorate, a pesticide commonly found in insecticides. Despite evidence pointing towards her involvement, Knighten repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, claiming to be a nurse with too much to lose.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd condemned Knighten’s actions, expressing disbelief that someone in the medical field could commit such a heinous act. Knighten has been booked into the Polk County Jail as the legal process continues.
In summary, Tamesha Knighten faces multiple charges of felony animal cruelty after allegedly poisoning her neighbor’s pets, resulting in the tragic deaths of several animals. The evidence against her suggests a deliberate and heartless act, and she remains in custody as the case unfolds.