Serial Cat Killer on the Prowl? Prosecutors Say Sean Lynde Tortured, Murdered Girlfriend's Cats

By: Kealan Oliver
Topics: Daily Blotter

(Family Photo)

NEW YORK (CBS/AP) New York prosecutors believe graphic designer Sean Lynde is a serial cat killer, who tortured his girlfriend's cats, forced laundry detergent down their throats and snapped their necks. They say his girlfriend, now his ex, kept replacing her dying pets, not realizing the killer was in her midst.

Photo: Bonifide and Emo were murdered.

But despite pleading guilty to aggravated animal cruelty in a Manhattan court this week, Lynde will remain on the loose.

The 36-year-old admitted killing only one kitten named Bonafide by breaking his neck in Jan. 2009. He was initially charged with killing five of the woman's cats, and torturing a sixth after moving into her apartment in Oct. 2008.

Three days after moving in with the woman, she found one of her cats dead behind a dryer with a broken jaw, a mouth full of laundry detergent and head trauma from being beaten, animal welfare authorities reported. Over the next four months, four more cats died of serious injuries.

State Supreme Court Justice Michael Obus told Lynde he must attend weekly therapy sessions, and stay away from his ex-girlfriend among other conditions, or the case could re-open and he could face up to two years in prison. Until then, he remains free.

Lynde admitted violating a previous order of protection by posting online messages aimed at his ex-girlfriend.

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by Muffin_McFurry September 29, 2011 11:39 AM EDT

I'd like Sean Lynde to meet my boyfriend Sean, who is a self-proclaimed cat man and cat lover. My boyfriend would snap HIS neck in half!

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by dfcinla October 8, 2011 2:15 PM EDT: Be aware that this person has moved to Southern California. He has been spotted at adoption events in Long Beach, CA trying to adopt rabbits. He was seen with a dark haired woman. He is also using aliases including Sean Patrick Lynde, Sean Barry MacKenzie, and Sean Linde (and probably others). Please spread the word about him and notify area authorities and animal rights groups (in Orange County, Long Beach, and Los Angeles). We need all the help we can get to make everyone aware of him.


by Twitchinwolf September 25, 2011 3:04 PM EDT: Okay first of all, girlfriend is an idiot for not realizing this after the 2nd cat. Then the guy SHOULD BE PUT IN JAIL FOREVER! He's not gonna stop! He's just gonna get better at hiding it!! I agree with erasmus111, obviously that's a judge that hates animals.; Reply to this comment


by RoboBlogger February 10, 2010 9:03 PM EST: 1 maybe 2 cats but possibly up to six? Come on. Either the lady is missing some brain cells or she's an accessory.; Reply to this comment


by cdegolier February 10, 2010 8:00 PM EST: We all know he will turn to children next, they always do.; Reply to this comment


by diesel817 February 10, 2010 3:24 PM EST: I guarantee this will not be the last time he tortures animals. I feel saddened to know he will do this again to many more harmless, defenseless animals. This bastard deserves to have all of his limps chopped off. He does not deserve to be human or anmimal.; Reply to this comment

by Aine57 February 10, 2010 10:45 AM EST

Not to minimize the torture and death he inflicted on innocent animals as I'm a catlover myself, but this kind of activity is ALSO a major characteristic of people who eventually become serial killers.

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by I_am_me1953 February 10, 2010 12:10 PM EST: Well I am not a cat person, but you are correct about this behavior eventually turning into serial killers.

I am surprised this woman let him kill 4 cats over four months and not become suspicious after the first.


by thejoker12 February 10, 2010 10:14 AM EST: WOW! We should have made him eat laundry detergent, beat him over the head several times then break his neck. Would it help him? No, but neither will counceling if he doesn't believe that what he did was wrong or if he can't control his feelings that cause him to harm animals. It sounds to me like displaced anger. Being that the cats belonged to his girlfriend perhaps he felt great frustration over something she was doing but couldn't tell her. It doesn't matter. What does matter is healthy people don't kill. People who do or think of killing are at least placed on some form of drugs.; Reply to this comment


by Brokennews February 10, 2010 10:12 AM EST: Can we get his home address?
I'd like to send an e-mail to PETA & the ASPCA so they can go spend a few months outside his house!; Reply to this comment