MIAMI – A Miami man broke into the home of his ex-girlfriend and strangled her cat while she and her mother were away, police said.
Eric Medero, 25, faces charges of stalking, armed burglary, criminal mischief and animal cruelty.
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Miami-Dade police said Medero broke into the home near Southwest 58th Avenue and Southwest 48th Street about 11:40 a.m. Thursday, using a crow bar to pry open a door.
The resident was at work when she saw someone inside her home while watching a security camera. She called police.
A short time later, officers arrived and saw a man, later identified as Medero, walk out the front door. Police said Medero ran off but was caught after a brief chase.
When officers searched the house, they found the resident's cat dead in her daughter's bedroom. The resident told police that the cat was alive before she left for work.
Police said Medero, who is the ex-boyfriend of the woman's daughter, had scratches on both forearms that were consistent with being clawed by a cat.
The woman told police that her daughter had a pending injunction that needed to be served against Medero.
Medero was arrested and taken to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where he was being held without bond on the armed burglary charge.
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