JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A disturbing discovery has turned into a weekly occurrence for people living at the MAA Atlantic Apartments off Hodges Boulevard.
Neighbors told First Coast News they have been finding severed squirrel heads and bodies since February. One woman living there did not want to go on camera or provide her name, but said she was afraid for her safety.
“I have them in my front of my lanai and the heads are all in different spots, either by the AC unit in the front. But I mostly get the bodies," the woman said.
Jayson Cabutto also lives in the building. He said he sees the body parts near the stairs and he can even smell the dead animals.
"Usually it's in the front, as you're walking up the stairs, he'll leave it right next to the stairs almost like he wants us to see it, which is creepy. One time I saw a head on his doorstep, right outside of his door," Cabutto said.
The neighbors believe the man behind this lives on the second floor and traps the squirrels on his balcony. They have called JSO and Animal Care and Protective Services. They also made complaints with management at the apartment complex, but the decapitated squirrels continue to show up.
One neighbor has now hired Kathleen Conran, a private investigator, to help. Conran has been conducting her own investigation into the person reportedly behind this. She said something needs to be done as soon as possible to keep everyone in the complex safe.
"I don't know who's in that apartment, but something's going on in that apartment. And I think that society and that apartment complex is in danger," Conran said.
The man accused of decapitating the squirrels was not home Tuesday when First Coast News knocked on his door. ACPS does have a case open at the address, but it is still under investigation. The people living there just want the killings to stop.
“It’s uncomfortable. it's definitely not something you want to see, especially when you're just coming home from work or whatever, you don't wanna see a dead squirrel," Cabutto said.
Management at MAA Atlantic told First Coast News they are taking this situation seriously and working with their legal team to determine next steps. If ACPS determines an animal cruelty charge is appropriate, JSO will handle the arrest.